Considering carts

DUNKIRK — A reminder was issued regarding existing golf cart rules.

The city will also consider a registration system for the vehicles.

Dunkirk City Council discussed golf carts and their use on city streets during its meeting Monday.

Council member Christy Curts brought up the golf cart issue, noting that she’s seen several driving on Main Street (Indiana 167). State law prohibits the use of golf carts on state highways.

She said she feels a reminder needs to be issued to residents and that existing laws regarding golf carts need to be enforced. She also noted that Albany has a golf cart registration fee and wondered out loud if Dunkirk should pursue a similar policy.

Other council members expressed concern about golf carts being driven by children younger than 16. (A driver’s license is required to operate a golf cart on a city street.)

City attorney Wes Schemenaur told council a majority of municipalities, including Portland and Redkey, require registering golf carts annually. (Portland approved its golf cart registration rules last year, eventually settling on a $10 fee.) He added that such a policy allows the city to confirm who owns a golf cart, to ensure that the vehicles are insured and properly equipped to be on the street and to remind drivers of the rules regarding golf carts.

Schemenaur noted that he compiled information regarding golf cart ordinances in surrounding municipalities when Portland City Council was considering the issue. (He also serves as Portland’s city attorney.) He agreed to send that information to Redkey Town Council members to allow them to study their options prior to the next council meeting.

Also Monday, Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins reported that work on a flood mitigation project is expected to begin soon.

He said the work will begin with sewer lines on 2nd, Palace and Broad streets as well as Rick Drive. The major part of the $1 million project involves creating detention basins east of Broad Street near Moore Avenue and west of 3rd Street near the southern city limits.

As part of that discussion, Bivens suggested council consider an amendment to it city ordinance to address repairing streets when they are cut for utility work. He said he has looked at other communities that have requirements for completely repaving a street if multiple cuts are made within a single block.

The idea is in response to gas line replacements that have been completed this year with more expected in 2024.

Council asked Schemenaur to look into the issue.

In other business, council:

•Received a copy of the ordinance to increase water and sewage rates by 3%. Schemenaur said plans are to hold the public hearing on the ordinance at the Aug. 14 meeting. If approved, the increases will go into effect Jan. 1.

•Heard the following from the mayor:

    —The installation of the new sidewalk from West Jay Elementary School to Dunkirk City Park along Highland Avenue is expected to be complete by Saturday. As of Monday evening, only the stretch along the north side of the park was left to be poured.

    —Two businesses — Fat Cat Tattoo and a jiu-jitsu studio — have opened in the former Westlawn Elementary School building. Owner Steve Schwieterman is talking with several other business owners about the possibility of moving to the facility.

    —The city’s board of works awarded a $4,919.15 contract to Steven Gillette to replace the roof over the office area of the sewage department because of a leak. The police department’s roof also has a leak, with Robbins noting he is working on getting quotes to fix it.

    —Rock and Kathy Fuqua have purchased the former pet store at 128 S. Main St., adjacent to the police department, with plans to renovate the building in hopes of attracting a business to the downtown area.

•Heard a request from Kathy Miskinis to vacate an alley between her two properties at 350 W. Pleasant St. and 349 W. Washington St. City officials agreed to look at the alley and start the necessary process for consideration of vacating it.

•Agreed to allow the use of the park and its concession stand for the Spencer Calvert softball tournament on Sept. 16. (The park was also reserved for Sept. 23 as a rain-out date.)

•Approved the payment of claims totaling $188,202.16.