By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Chiefland City Commissioners Monday approved the first reading of an amended ordinance allowing the operation of golf carts on city streets.
Golf carts are forbidden to drive on, or cross, any county, state or federal highways under the ordinance.
Golf carts can’t drive on Park Ave, but can cross it. Park Ave. is a county road and a city street.
The second reading of the ordinance will take place at the next commission meeting. The second reading means final approval.
Chiefland’s original golf cart ordinance limited golf cart travel to certain designated streets.
City Manager Laura Cain brought a proposal that would have placed a sign on every street for golf cart use, but the $13,000-plus price tag wasn’t well received by the board.
City Attorney Norm Fugate said it wasn’t necessary from a legal standpoint to place golf cart signs on streets. He said the city could, at its discretion, place a sign at entrances to the city saying the city allows golf carts on all city streets except as otherwise designated.
The city commission has grappled with this issue for months due largely to the presence of two large RV parks in the city. Many of the golf cart owners in the RV parks like to drive to stores or restaurants in their golf carts. Local residents also like to travel to neighboring homes in golf carts.
The original question was whether golf carts could cross or drive on federal highways in the city – U.S. 27A. U.S. 19/98, and U.S.129. A Florida Department of Transportation official turned thumbs down on that idea.
State law also prohibits golf carts on county roads.
The amended golf cart ordinance gives golf cart owners more flexibility to cruise around on city streets, but they are forbidden to cross or drive on federal, state, and county highways.
Squad Truck Request
Commissioners also approved a request by Fire Chief Dwayne King allowing him to proceed with an application for state funding to purchase a $397,000 squad truck.
King said the city is badly in need of a squad truck. The old one is completely worn out. King wants to apply for a state appropriation from the Florida Legislature to buy the truck.
The truck would be equipped to handle emergency medical calls as well as fight major fires. The truck would carry 1,500 gallons of water. The city responds to more medical emergencies than fires.
The city’s current coverage area includes not only Chiefland but the area surrounding it including Fowler’s Bluff and Otter Creek, spreading the city thin when it has multiple calls to answer. It also answers mutual aid calls in neighboring communities.
King said the squad truck will be an invaluable addition to the fire department and will spare the city from using its new fire engine to answer medical calls when the aging squad truck is broken down.
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City of Chiefland Regular Meeting February 13, 2023; Posted February 16, 2023
