Golf carts could become more visible on Tipton city streets, if the city council grants a request to allow the vehicles on some of the community’s roads.

Todd Huston, owner of a Tipton golf cart company, said Aug. 18 that he was appearing because he had received several requests from the public about use on city streets.

Huston said that he thought the use of carts during RAGBRAI had gone well and wondered if the city would be willing to allow use of some streets on a trial basis.

He noted the gas savings that could occur and said some elderly people could use them to run errands and go to the grocery store.

He said rules would include; only golf carts, inside the city limits, licensed drivers only, $1 million of insurance, proper vehicle markings, sun up to sun down, less than 25 mph, and a $50 badge.

Huston said that people who violated the rules could be subject to a $50 fine, with a 2nd violation resulting in a $250 fine and lost of privileges for one year.

He told the council that carts should not run on busy streets, such as highways 38 and 130, as well as 9th and South streets.

Currently there are about 10 towns in Iowa that allow golf carts on city streets and Huston said one town, Swisher, has no ordinance regulating their use.

Council members appeared receptive to the idea. Council member Don McGlaughlin asked if seat belts would be required. Huston said he would prefer they not be.

He encouraged the council to consider the proposal and said all carts should be required to have a slow moving vehicle (SMV) sign and a red flag.

The council will get a legal opinion from City Attorney Lowell Dendinger and discuss the issue again in September. There will also be discussion between Huston, Mayor Shirley Kepford, City Manager Doug Boldt and Police Chief Roger Hakeman.

Green Energy

In a 3 to 2 vote, the council approved spending about $17,000 over the next year on Green Energy certificates for power generated by windmills.

Those voting in favor were Warren Wethington, Don McGlaughlin and Bob Klemme. Voting against were Klay Johnson and Dean Anderson.

The approval came despite a request from Johnson that the city survey residents before spending the money.

Although the funds are budgeted, Johnson said they were still dollars that came from consumers. He asked that customers have a say in the decision.

City Manager Doug Boldt said the council approved a budget that had funding for renewable energy, but it was their call on whether they wanted to pursue it.

Electric Superintendent John Packwood said the renewable energy credits participation would cost the city $5.95 per megawatt hour, which would be paid to a broker who certifies green certificates and takes a cut. The rest of the funds would go to people who build wind turbine farms.

He admitted that wind energy was not a profitable venture at the current time.

Other Business

The council:

*Approved a sewer maintenance contract with Municipal Pipe Tool Co. of Hudson for 5 years at a cost of $3,000 per year. The city will work with the company to identify deteriorating sections of sanitary sewer lines that are contributing to inflow and infiltration.

*Approved purchase of an 8,000 gallon, double wall fuel tank for $15,716.16. The tank will be located east of the power plant and will be manufactured by Xerxes of Tipton. It will be purchased from Acterra of Marion.

*Approved final payment to Maguire Iron Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D. of $45,722.50 for construction of the new water tower.

*Approved final payment of $993.50 to Iseler Demolition, Inc., Romeo, Mich. for taking down the old water tower.

*Approved total compensation, not to exceed $39,500, to Garden and Associates, Ltd., Oskaloosa, for engineering services provided for construction of the new tower and demolition of the old. The original contract was for $31,000, but did not include added work over the past year.

*Approved certificates of completion for Maguire Iron and Iseler Demolition on the 2 projects, and a statement of substantial completion on the new hangar at Mathews Memorial Airport.

*Approved a liquor license renewal for the Tipton Country Club.

*Went into closed session to discuss and consider purchase of real estate.

*Set the first and 2nd council meetings in September for the 8th and 22nd.

Brand New 6 passenger golf cart

* Blue or Red in stock
* Includes Extended top (not shown)
* 421cc motors
* 13 HP
* Kawasaki Engines
* Rear Flip Flop seat to fold down into back deck
* Price: $7994. No Sales tax here in Delaware.

What the manufacture has to say:
Standard features:
Horn
Two-Tone Seats
12 Volt Outlet
Black Bumper/Brush Guard Convertible Carrier
Fuel Gauge and Oil Indicator (Gas)
Headlights and Brake Lights
State of Charge Meter (Electric)
Optional Items:
Roto-Molded Plastic Bed
Stake Side Carrier
Flat Windshield
Canopy
Rearview Mirror Ash Tray
Turn Signals with 4-way Flashers
Other Specs:

Body & Chassis
Frame     Welded tubular steel with DuraShield™ powder coating
Front Body & Finish     Injection-molded Geloy XTW
Rear Body & Finish     Fiberglass with Gelcoat and Injection-molded TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin)
Standard Color     Electric Blue/White or Black/Flame Red
Dimensions
Overall Length     138.0 in (351 cm)
Overall Width     46.5 in (119 cm)
Overall Height
(no canopy)     52.5 in (133.5 cm) (top of steering wheel)
Overall Height
(with canopy)     76.0 in (193 cm) (top of sun canopy)
Wheel Base     95.0 in (241 cm)
Front Wheel Track     37.5 in (95 cm)
Rear Wheel Track     38.5 in (98 cm)
Ground Clearance
(at differential)     7.0 in (18 cm)
Power
Power Source     4-cycle, 24.5 cu in (401 cc) low emissions
Valve Train     Single cylinder OHV
Horsepower (kW)     13 hp (9.7 kW)
Electric System     Starter/generator, solid state regulator
Batteries (qty/type)     One 12-volt, maintenance-free
Air Cleaner     Industrial rated dry filter
Lubrication     Pressurized oil system
Oil Filter     Spin on
Cooling System     Air cooled
Fuel Capacity     5.8 gallons (22.0 L)
Drive Train     Automatic, continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Transaxle     Differential with helical gears
Gear Selection     Forward-reverse
Rear Axle Ratio     11.42:1 (forward) 15.78:1 (reverse)

Performance
Seating Capacity     4-person (6 Person with optional rear seat kit)
Dry Weight     960 lb (440 kg)
Curb Weight     1010 lb (460 kg)
Bed Load Capacity     250 lb (110 kg)
Vehicle Load Capacity     1200 lb (540 kg)
Outside Clearance Circle     25.5 ft (7.8 m)
Forward Ground Speed     16.0 mph ± 0.5 mph (25.7 kph ± 0.8 kph)
Reverse Ground Speed     12.0 mph ± 0.5 mph (19.3.0 kph ± 0.8 kph)

Steering & Suspension
Steering     Self-compensating reduction rack and pinion
Front Suspension     Leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers
Rear Suspension     Leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers
Service Brake     Dual rear wheel mechanical self-adjusting drum brakes
Parking Brake     Self-compensating single-point engagement
Front Tires     Terra Trac 23 x 10.5 -12 on Diamond Alloy Wheel
Rear Tires     Terra Trac 23 x 10.5 -12 on Diamond Alloy Wheel

A golf cart may be the best solution to beat high gas prices. That’s what some Osgood residents are doing, despite a state law saying it’s illegal.

An ordinance was passed in 2007 by the Osgood town council  to allow golf carts and utility vehicles to be driven within the city limits. Resident Bill Warren and wife Brenda do a lot of errands like going to the post office or store, using their golf cart. It saves on gas, they said.

However, state police say a state statute trumps a local ordinance. Sgt. Noel Houze cited the law: to be lawfully operated upon a public street or highway in Indiana, motor vehicles must be registered and plated. A golf cart is a motor vehicle because it is self propelled. It excludes some farm equipment and scooters, but not golf carts. The problem is the BMV won’t plate the golf cart because it does not meet safety standards.

Osgood Town Marshal John Hegge doesn’t have a problem with it. He cites Indiana code title 14 saying he believes cities and towns can make ordinances for golf carts. But Title 9 contradicts that, he says. The vehicles should have lights if operated after dark, be insured and operators adhere to traffic rules.

Sgt. Houze admits the state police are not actively engaged in enforcing the golf cart laws, but troopers will not a turn a blind eye if  violations occur while they are on routine patrol.

Osgood residents using golf carts hope state police will not seek them out. As Bill Warren says, what’s the big fuss. In Florida, where he also owns property, grocery stores have designated “golf cart parking only. “

Golf cart use has also been brought up in Oldenburg. Oldenburg’s town attorney is researching golf cart ordinances. Residents brought up the subject at the Aug. 4 council meeting. Some towns do not allow carts on roads with speed limits  over 35 mph or cross state highway. The town marshall has said he had no problem with it.

See more on this story in this week’s Versailles Repubilican.

Tags: Golf Carts Allowed So Far On Osgood Roads

Golf carts are moving from the fairways to the roadways as gas prices, though declining slightly in recent days, continue to eat away at pocketbooks.

The laws regulating the operation of golf carts on public roads are handled by the state. “There is no local ordinance that prohibits this,” said City Manager Frank Johnson.
Courtney Case/News Messenger
(ENLARGE)
John B. Taylor drives past the historic Harrison County Courthouse in his new electric cart Wednesday in Marshall. The vehicle, a Tomberlin E-Merge, is used to get around the downtown area without using a car.

“There’re provisions in the Transportation Code that look like they allow for the general use of golf carts on roads that have a speed limit of 35 (mph) or less — it refers to them as ‘neighborhood electric vehicles,’” said Todd Fitts, attorney for the city of Marshall.

But “neighborhood electric vehicles” don’t necessarily adhere to the general idea of a “golf cart.”

“Texas law references federal law as far as the definition of what a golf cart is and I’m not so sure that would govern ‘off-the-course’ golf carts,” Fitts said. “We’re still looking at it and trying to figure out what best suits our needs here in the city.”

Unfortunately, according to the attorney, it’s not as simple as just declaring that golf carts are permitted on city streets.

“There are issues that we have to look at — age, safety features, insurance to name a few — plus, how do we define a golf cart,” he said. “We may or may not require some kind of city registration. As we look into it further, I think some kinds of precautions would be something we might want to move to. I think we want to be proactive and do something.”

Cary “Mac” Abney would like to see the city become proactive.

Abney brings his personally-owned golf cart to the Abney Simmons & Company CPA office at 215 E. Austin St. and allows members of the firm — and some of its customers — to use it to get around the downtown area.

“We kind of started this as a test program during the summer,” he said. “It saves our people driving their cars and, in fact, some of our clients have used it, too, just to run across to an attorney’s office or such. It’s really been a good deal for us.”

Abney said he has been contacted by other residents since his “test program” began and feels that the use of these electric carts is going to catch on. Therefore, he added, the city will need to address the increased use of them on public streets.

“We have no problem getting around in traffic,” he said. “It’s actually faster than using a car and it’s so much better to run to the bank or to the attorney’s office or the post office. And you can park in a little bitty space.”

Abney’s cart, which he said “started out as a regular golf cart,” has been altered. He’s had lights installed, though he said he hasn’t yet used it at night. He’s also had an extra seat installed and has placed an “SMV” (slow moving vehicle) sign on the back, the latter as required by state transportation code.

“We can go 23, 24 miles in it before it needs to be charged. We just plug it in overnight and it’s ready to go,” he said. “I’m going to build a cage for it here at the office so we can leave it here. I think this fall is going to be a big teller with it. I’m hoping to be able to leave it here all winter.”

Abney said he’s purchased insurance on the vehicle and only allows licensed drivers to use it and only on roadways with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

“I’m hoping more people will start using them,” he said. “We’re really happy with it.”

Texas Law

The Texas Transportation Code defines a golf cart as “a motor vehicle designed by the manufacturer primarily for transporting persons on a golf course.” A “passenger vehicle” is defined as “a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, golf cart, light truck, or bus, designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons.”

Section 502.0071 states that the owner of a golf cart is not required to register the vehicle if the cart is operated only during the “daytime,” defined as beginning one-half hour before sunrise and ending one-half hour after sunset, and the operation:

Does not exceed a distance of two miles from the point of origin to the destination if driven to and from a golf course;

Occurs entirely within a master planned community with a uniform set of restrictive covenants that has had a plat approved by a county or a municipality; or

Occurs on a public or private beach.

The state law requires that a golf cart display a “slow-moving vehicle” emblem when it is operated on an arterial street.

The code also allows for the issuance of specialty license plates for eligible golf carts but specifies that the issuance of such a plate “does not authorize the operation of a golf cart on a public road where it is otherwise prohibited by law.”

TYPES OF GOLF CARTS

With the popularity and availability of “carts” growing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has listed and defined some of the current varieties.

Sub-25 mph vehicle: Any 4-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is not greater than 25 miles per hour. This group includes all of the vehicles in the other groups below, except those speed-modified golf cars whose top speed is greater than 25 miles per hour.

Conventional golf car: Either a fleet golf car or a personal golf car.

Fleet golf car: A golf car used solely to carry one or more people and golf equipment to play golf. These are sold to golf courses.

Personal golf car: A golf car used to carry one or more people and may carry golf equipment to play golf. These are sold to individual people who may use them to travel on public roads to and from golf courses and to play golf, to travel on public roads on purposes unrelated to golf, or for all of these purposes.

Speed-modified golf car: A conventional golf car that was modified, after its original manufacture, so as to increase its speed. While some speed-modified golf cars have a top speed of 20 to 25 miles per hour, others have a higher top speed. That modification may currently be accompanied by the addition of safety equipment required for the on-road use of the golf car.

Neighborhood electric vehicle: Any 4-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is not greater than 25 miles per hour. Some of these vehicles look more like a passenger car than a conventional golf car.

Low-speed vehicle: Any 4-wheeled motor vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour. This group includes neighborhood electric vehicles, and speed-modified golf cars, whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour.

Tags: Golf carts on city streets?

Are you a novice golf player that wants to take your game to the next level? Are you tired of lugging your golf bag around the course? Well, there are several options available and it really depends on how much you?re willing to spend. Golf carts and golf caddie carts come in a wide variety to help you take some weight off your shoulders and enjoy your game more.

Most golf courses can rent you a caddie or cart but that can add up especially if you plan on playing frequently. You also will feel better owning something that you can call your own and personalizing it. And let?s face it; it can also be a status thing so you can impress your golfing buddies.

Let?s start with golf carts since that is what the pro player wants. These come in a variety of sizes and options. There are gas powered ones which are better for larger courses since they don?t rely on recharging but they have a downside. Gas powered carts can be noisy and emit exhaust which can be bothersome to you and other players on the course. Most choose an electric golf cart since they are quiet and since golf courses provide charging stations. If you?re planning on doing a lot of driving then electric carts can be purchased with longer battery life.

Golf carts range in size and brand. There are reputable brands and some that are not as common but in any case most come with a warranty. If you have deep pockets and you really want something luxurious (and to impress your friends) there are even carts made by Rolls Royce and Jeep. These kinds of carts can be customized with many different options and are more for status purposes than for utilitarian purposes.

If you don?t want to invest that much money into a cart but still want something to help with lugging your equipment around the course then think about getting a caddie cart. These range in price from a very basic model at about 60 dollars to ones with many features upwards of 1000 dollars. Features vary but many are again just bells and whistles and not really to improve your game. Some come with a water dispenser which can come in handy while you?re out on the course during your golf vacations.

Golf caddies and carts can be found by shopping around on line or at pro golf shops. Before you buy a cart, make sure you take it for a test drive. There is sure to be a well stocked shop if you live in a city that has several golf courses but it?ll be more challenging if you don?t. Also ask other golfers who have carts for their recommendations and check out reviews online.

If you?re serious about golf and don?t want to break your back then look into purchasing a golf cart or caddie cart. It will make your game more enjoyable.