Golf carts not likely to be allowed on Lowell streets

At their meeting on June 9, the Lowell Town Council appeared to make it abundantly clear they are not in favor of allowing golf carts on town streets.

Stephanie Colson presented council with a petition signed by 283 residents in favor of the measure. Colson gathered the signatures in the two weeks since the last meeting on May 26, when she approached council about being added to the agenda for Monday’s meeting.

Colson said she read the comments after posting the question on Facebook. She got a mixed bag of thoughts and ideas from the Lowell residents regarding the golf carts. Based on the replies she received, Colson said people were concerned with unruly teenagers, property damage and tax increases related to the golf carts.

However, Colson acknowledged there would be precautions, such as inspection and licensing of the golf carts, should this ever come to pass. She expressed her belief the Lowell Police Department could enforce the laws involving golf carts in town.

Councilman John Yelkich opposes the measure. Yelkich, an insurance agent by profession, works in Hobart where the golf carts are allowed. He has observed many instances of distracted and unsafe operation of the golf carts just by looking out his office window.

“I will never, under any circumstances, vote yes for this,” Yelkich said. “People are driving their golf carts with their kids hanging off the back. I watched a person drive by with their kid wrestling a dog in the back of this golf cart. You cannot police stupidity, and there are too many stupid people out there.”

Colson said the poor behavior observed by Yelkich did not represent the majority of golf cart owners, also noting there are plenty of unsafe automobile drivers as well. However, Yelkich stuck to his guns and doubled down, saying “it’s not as big of a minority that you’d think.” He noted there are people who are shuttling their children around on the vehicles unrestrained.

“Ma’am, you’re really talking to these four, because I’m never, ever going to be for it,” Yelkich said. “I’ve seen it become an issue and it’s a horrible situation.”

Councilman Mike Gruszka said council was approached approximately three years ago with a similar request for golf carts. Gruszka’s research showed there is no legal way in Indiana to cross state roads in a golf cart without potentially racking up a violation. He said even if people were to run their golf carts when the road is shut down, they run the risk of having the vehicle impounded.

“I was for them,” Gruszka said. “I’m not now, because in order to have this actually functionable for Lowell, there's no way to cross State Route 2 without breaking the law.”

Colson said the state laws permit low-speed vehicles on roads with speed limits under 35 mph, as long as they’re registered, licensed and insured. Gruszka said they will “probably only get one percent of the people who are going to do that.” He said the other 99 percent would likely overwhelm the police department.

“I just can't,” Gruszka said. “If I passed that, lo and behold, it will happen. Somebody's going to let their kid take that golf cart out, or they're not going to be home and the kids going to take that golf cart out and they're going to get wiped out by a semi truck going down Route 2.”

The back-and-forth started to get a little heated when Yelkich asked Colson why she was in favor of allowing the golf carts on the town’s streets. When she answered “Why not,” Yelkich rolled his eyes. Colson appeared incensed at the gesture, and even called him out on it, but Yelkich felt her answer was insufficient.

“This conversation is has gone on ad nauseum over the years, and it's always the same situation, right?” Yelkich said. “It's always the same responses. You aren't going to have to clean up the mess. We are. And that's why I'm holding my eyes, because I'm seeing what's coming down the road for us as a council and for Jim (Woestman) as a as a police chief and for Chris (Gamblin) as the fire chief and it it's not good.”

Councilman John Alessia indicated he might be open to hearing the argument from a homeowner’s association from one of the larger subdivisions in town, but he still was concerned about the logistics of the enforcement. Nevertheless, if council were to entertain the notion, Alessia wants to ensure there are more people who want it than not.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 23.