Inspections not required for Fort carts (08/07/07)

FORT RECOVERY - Golf cart owners here will no longer be required to have their vehicles inspected under an amendment passed at a council meeting Monday.

Previously, owners of golf carts were required by the 2003 ordinance to have their carts inspected annually.

The amendment was passed because state law does not require an annual inspection of slow moving vehicles, said Randy Diller, Fort Village administrator.

The council also discussed a possible ordinance allowing the village to be reimbursed when an offender is jailed for violating a village ordinance.

Currently, the village must foot the cost when someone is jailed in the Mercer County jail for breaking a village ordinance.

Diller said that it has only happened once in the past 13 years, but it could cost the village if a judge would sentence someone to an extended sentence.

The council also heard an update on the Sewer Separation Project.

The project will take place in three phases - starting with the first phase in early 2009.

Each phase of the project will take approximately three years.

Fort council members heard an update on a street reconstruction project currently underway. Surface reconstruction work on George Street and Hickory Circle began Monday.

In other business, council members:

•Heard an update on the negotiations between the village and Dayton Power and Light Company. The village is trying to phase out DPLC, which operate 112 street lamps in Fort Recovery. DPLC has proposed withdrawing its four-year commitment in exchange for a 3 percent increase for 2008 for all street lamps owned by DPLC in the village. Under the proposed agreement, the village would no longer have to pay for DPLC street lamps that are replaced by the village.

•Heard an update on the Safe Routes to School grant through the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The village will be required to resubmit their grant after the criteria was rewritten by the state. The grant would fund a traffic patterns study with emphasis on pedestrians and bicycles near schools.

•Heard an update on the ongoing sealing of city parking lots and streets. Village officials hope to seal city streets this week, weather permitting.

•Heard an update on a Transportation Enhancement grant from Ohio Department of Transportation.

The village is hoping to use the grant to purchase new street lights along one mile of Ohio 49 by 2011.[[In-content Ad]]