With half of the four-member Public Works Committee absent from Monday’s meeting, a quorum was not present to vote on issues that were discussed.
The committee did hear from City Administrator Lance Hedquist on a number of the items on the agenda, including word that the city will do a test well that could extend a water line from Veterans Drive to Baumer Park to feed a sprinkler system that serves the park.
“We’re doing a test well at that location (in the spring), and if it is positive for a well it would be my recommendation to put in east and west lines at the same time,” he said.
Discussion about allowing golf carts to be driven in residential parts of town noted that several communities, including Dakota City, already have ordinances in place that allow for golf carts to be driven in city limits, with some limitations.
Councilman Ben Schultz said the city’s laws already state that the vehicles can’t be driven across a highway or on a city street where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or higher.
Police Chief Ed Mahon said he could see problems with the vehicles going too slow for traffic along busy streets.
“My concern is not that they go too fast, but that they go too slow,” he said.
Mayor Rod Koch agreed, saying that a golf cart with a top speed of 15-20 miles per hour “is not safe” for driving along busy streets like Dakota Avenue or G Street.
Schultz, who is principal at Dakota City Elementary School, said he has a number of local residents who use golf carts to pick up their kids after school.
Three Nebraska cities — Wahoo, Papillion and Plattsmouth — have specific golf cart ordinances, according to Mahon.
More discussion on the topic will take place during Monday’s upcoming City Council meeting.
