By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

After hearing from a handful  of city residents, the Glenwood City Commission and City Attorney Troy Nelson will continue working on ordinances allowing ATVs and golf carts on city streets.

The goal, according to City Administrator Dave Iverson, is to take the information provided by the public and commissioners and “come up with the final document before this winter.”

About seven residents showed up at an informational meeting on the subject conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at City Hall.  All of them were in favor of allowing ATV and golf cart use on Glenwood streets, but some made a few suggestions about changes to the proposed ordinances.  One of the main suggestions was to license or permit the vehicle rather than the person driving it.  That way the vehicle would be easily identified with some sort of sticker and any licensed driver would legally be able to drive them on city streets.

Jim Rinsem told the commission that he agreed with most of the proposed ordinance but said the license or permit to drive should be on the vehicle.  “The way (the ordinance) is written it sounds like the license would be tied to the individual rather than the vehicle,” Rinsem said.

Another resident also stated that there are “street legal” golf carts that have signal lights, back lights and head lights and questioned why those would be allowed only in the summer months.

Dave Evink had the same question and questioned why street-legal golf carts should be limited to daylight hours, since they are equipped with all the lights.  All the suggestions made were noted by Nelson and the commission. 

City Commissioner Mavis Pattee thanked those at the meeting for making “constructive and helpful” suggestions.  Mayor Sherri Kazda agreed and thanked residents for attending.  

No action was taken Wednesday, but Nelson was instructed to give commissioners discussion points from the meeting for a final discussion on the ordinances before the ordinances are finalized.  The commission will likely have that discussion at its first regular meeting in September.  Once the ordinance is finalized it will go through a first and second reading and be published, before it can be approved.  That process can take nearly a month.   “We’d like to have something in place before this winter,” Iverson reiterated.

The informational meeting included a summary of the proposed ordinances by the city attorney before the commissioners heard public comments.  The proposed ordinances in its current form can be viewed online by going to the city’s website at  www.ci.glenwood.mn.us or by picking up a copy at city hall.   The ordinance does call for  an annual permit fee, but commissioners have not yet decided on the cost.

A summary of the proposed ordinances drafted by the city attorney and presented to the city commission in August follow.

Summary of proposed Glenwood ordinance on ATVs

The new ordinance points out that it will unlawful for any person to operate an ATV without obtaining a city permit.  

•Class 2 ATV Operator permits will be granted from January 1 through Dec. 31 and may be renewed on annual basis.

•Class 1 ATV operator permits shall be granted from Nov. 1 to March 31.  

•Permits will not be prorated and a new permit shall be required for each time period.

Operator Permit conditions

No operator permit shall be granted or renewed unless the following conditions are met:

•The city is in receipt of a complete application and permit fee.

•The applicant is 16 years of age or older and provides a valid driver’s license.

•The applicant provides proof of insurance in compliance with Minn. Stat. 65B.48, as it may be amended from time to time.

•ATVs may be operated within the city on public roadways, but not operated on State Trunk Highways within the city.  Direct crossing of such highways is allowed. 

•ATVs shall be operated at all times in proper traffic lanes and not exceed the designated speed limit.

•ATVs may be operated on designated city roadways and intersections from sunrise to sunset except when ATVs or UTVs are equipped with original equipment headlights, tail lights and rear-facing brake lights.  If equipped with original equipment Class 2 ATVs can be operated year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Class 1 ATVs can be operated during the same time period, but only from Nov. 1 to March 31.  

•The use of Class 1 ATVs on city roadways between April 1 and Oct. 31 is expressly prohibited and subject to penalty provided in the ordinance.  

•No person a shall operate a Class 1 or Class 2 ATV or UTV on a public sidewalk, trail or park unless otherwise expressly authorized by the city.  This prohibition shall not include the city beach area for lake access purposes from Nov. 1 through. March 31.  This prohibition shall not include the asphalt roadway within all city parks, but does apply to all other trails, paths and park grounds within the park system.    

Summary of proposed Glenwood ordinance/Golf Carts

There is a separate ordinance on motorized golf carts.  

•A permit to operate on city streets must be attained and will be allowed for persons licensed to drive motor vehicles as defined by Minnesota Statute Ch. 169. Applicants will need to submit proof of their driver’s license and insurance.

•An annual fee shall be established.

Restrictions

No motorized golf cart shall be driven, operated or controlled on the roadways or shoulders of roadways under the jurisdiction of the City of Glenwood:

–between sunset and sunrise.

–in inclement weather, when visibility is reduced.

–without prominent display of a slow-moving vehicle emblem provided in MS. 169.522 on the rear of vehicle.

–without a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver…for at least 200 feet to the rear of vehicle.

–without liability insurance coverage

–contrary to any traffic law of the City of Glenwood or State of Minnesota, except those which cannot reasonably be applied to motorized golf carts…

–without a current valid individual permit.

–during the time period from Nov. 1 through March 31.

No person shall operate a motorized golf cart on a public sidewalk, trail or park unless otherwise expressly authorized by the city.  This prohibition shall not include the asphalt roadway within all city parks, but does apply to all other trails, paths and park grounds within city’s park system.