Chesterton Tribune                                                                                   Adv.

Golf carts legal once again on town roads

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By KEVIN NEVERS

It was illegal to operate golf carts on Town of Chesterton public rights-of-way for exactly 76 days.

As of 7:30 p.m. Monday, it became legal again.

At its meeting Monday night, the Town Council voted 4-0 to approve on first reading an ordinance making golf carts street-legal, 4-0 to suspend the rules, then 4-0 to approve that ordinance on final reading. Member Jeff Trout, R-2nd, was not in attendance.

The ordinance was the council’s response to a new state law, which took effect on July 1, banning golf carts from operating on municipal rights-of-way in the absence of a local ordinance specifically permitting their operation.

The ordinance--whose jurisdiction ends at the town’s corporate boundaries, meaning a golf cart operator may not legally drive from the Town of Chesterton into unincorporated Porter County--is not without conditions:

*Golf cart operators must be in possession of a driver’s license under IC 9-24.

*Golf cart operators must obey all traffic regulations applicable to motor vehicles.

*Golf carts must display a slow-moving vehicle sign or red or amber flashing lights attached to the rear.

*Golf carts are not permitted to operate on Ind. 49 or at any grade-crossing of Ind. 49, nor are they permitted to operate on sidewalks.

*The operation of golf carts on public rights-of-way is limited to daylight hours, unless the golf cart is equipped with headlamps, tail lamps, and stop lamps.

Violations of the ordinance are subject to a fine of $100.

Police Chief George Nelson told the council that he has no reservations about the new ordinance and added that he first asked Associate Town Attorney Chuck Parkinson to research the matter after the new state law went into effect in July.

Salary Ordinance Amendment

In other business, members voted 4-0 to approve on first reading an amendment to the 2009 Salary Ordinance, 4-0 to suspend the rules, then 4-0 to approve that amendment on final reading.

That amendment reinstates the $500 per week stipend of Interim Utility Superintendent Mark O’Dell, with the unexpected resignation of newly hired Superintendent James Shank less than two weeks after Shank’s official first day on the job, Aug. 16.

The amendment makes the stipend retroactive to Aug. 16.

O’Dell was appointed interim superintendent after the unexpected resignation early this year of Steve Yagelski.

Vacation Leave

Members also voted 4-0 to approve on first reading an ordinance officially codifying the terms of vacation leave for town employees, 4-0 to suspend the rules, then 4-0 to approve the ordinance on final reading.

Under that ordinance, town employees during continuous years of full-time employment are entitled to vacation leave as follows:

*After the first anniversary of continuous full-time employment, 40 hours.

*After the second anniversary, 80 hours.

*After the fifth anniversary, 120 hours.

*After the 15th anniversary, 160 hours.

*After the 20th anniversary, 200 hours.

The official accrued vacation period begins on Jan. 1 of each calendar year.

Department heads also follow this schedule, except that they receive a minimum 120 hours of vacation annually. Department heads must complete a full year of employment before being eligible for the initial 120 hours, unless otherwise determined by the council at the time of hiring or by official council action during the first year of employment.

 

Posted 9/15/2009

 

 

 

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