Golf cart proposal hits dead end -- again

Libby City Council took the wheels off of a proposal that would allow golf carts within the city.

Following a brief discussion on Jan. 19, councilors voted unanimously against the potential ordinance.

The rejection marks the second time the proposal failed to make it through the council. In October, the measure died on the floor when it didn't receive a motion from a city councilor. Residents then brought it back to the council’s ordinance committee. After receiving the committee’s approval for a second time, the proposal went back before the full city council.

The proposal was promoted by residents who hoped to make it easier for those with disabilities to travel around town. Councilors first considered the ordinance at the behest of a single individual looking to use a cart to get to and from work.

Under the proposal, the city would restrict carts on U.S. Highway 2, state Highway 37 and Mineral Avenue. Councilors objected to the proposal in part because the road restrictions in the ordinance prevented cart drivers from accessing the Cabinet View Golf Course.

“This seems a little off-kilter to allow this in the city when you can’t actually access the golf course with a golf cart from downtown,” said City Councilor Gary Beach.

City Councilor Kristin Smith made the motion to approve the proposal. City Councilor Brian Zimmerman offered a second. For city councilors to debate the merits of a proposal, a motion must first be made and seconded. Zimmerman immediately criticized the ordinance.

Zimmerman, who sits on the ordinance committee, said that he failed to see how the change in code benefitted the community as a whole.

Were the proposal approved, the golf carts allowed on Libby streets would have needed safety features, including lamps, reflectors and mirrors.

Though banned from highways and streets with posted speed limits over 25 miles per hour, carts could still have crossed U.S. Highway 2 and state Highway 37 at select intersections. Carts were to be restricted from sidewalks and multi-paths.

Before taking the wheel, golf cart drivers would have needed a valid driver’s license or low speed restricted driver’s license. Owners would have been required to register their carts with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division and procure liability insurance.