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Golf carts discussed again during council meeting

Writer's picture: Radio WorksRadio Works

Motorized golf carts were once again a topic of discussion during Monday’s Worthington City Council meeting.


Minnesota statute states that the governing body of a Home Rule Charter City may authorize by ordinance the operation of motorized golf carts on designated roadways under its jurisdiction. Council members had directed city staff to prepare a draft ordinance for their review and consideration following a discussion during a meeting last month.


Worthington City Administrator Steve Robinson offered details of the draft ordinance. He noted the current ordinance was specifically written to respond to a request from one or two facilities for seniors. He added that the draft ordinance has yet to be reviewed by the city attorney and wouldn’t take effect during the current season.


Councilman Chad Cummings worried that the draft ordinance may offer too many restrictions to motorized golf carts, noting that electric scooters and e-bikes are already increasingly commonplace around the city without restrictions. It was suggested that the city’s side-by-side ordinance be potentially revised instead.


Robinson vowed to look into possible ordinance changes and report back to the council.


Also Monday, Bradley Peterson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) provided an update on the organization during Monday’s Worthington City Council. Peterson pronounced himself “gobsmacked” with what has been done to improve and develop Worthington in recent years and stated that it offers lessons to other communities.


Peterson talked about the Coalition’s 2023 legislative priorities, focusing particularly on local government aid and the bonding bill as well as multiple other matters.


As for LGA, the CGMC was asking for an appropriation increase of at least $150 million, as well as an updating of its formula. However, he said LGA faced “stiff competition with DFL priorities in tax proposals.” In the end, it received an $80 million increase, which followed an early proposal of just $30 million from Gov. Tim Walz, and it also got a formula change to better assess the needs of member cities.


Peterson also hailed the passage of a traditional bonding bill of $1.5 billion by the state legislature, as well as $1.1 billion cash bill and $300 million package for nursing homes.


In other business Monday, the council:


* Authorized the advertisement for bids for restoration and renovation work at the Center for Active Living.


* Approved an agreement for services with GeoTek Engineering of Sioux Falls for removal of an underground heating oil tank at the former Lakeshore Service station.


* Approved a request from Sheila Pederson to place a bench at Sailboard Beach in memory of Rich Pederson.



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