Oskaloosa City Council votes to allow golf carts on the recreation trail

Oskaloosa Iowa City Council Chambers

The Oskaloosa City Council has voted to allow golf carts on the Oskaloosa Recreation Trail. The third reading of an ordinance allowing for the usage of golf carts on the recreation trail was approved at Monday’s meeting. The vote came after three city council meetings in which numerous citizens rose in favor and against the golf carts. At the first two meetings, public comment lasted 45 minutes meanwhile at Monday’s meeting, public comment only lasted around 15 minutes with only two citizens rising to speak on the golf carts. Both citizens were against the golf carts.

When it came time for discussion from the city council members on the golf carts, Council Member Aaron Ver Steeg began. “I still think though there’s a good segment of the population, about 20 percent, that really is restricted from using the trail because of our golf cart regulations.” Ver Steeg also read an e-mail from a constituent with mobility issues who was looking forward to being able to use golf carts on the trail. Ver Steeg also went on to say “I think that we are discriminating against people by not allowing them to use it and I’m going to vote in favor of it tonight.”

“I just can’t believe that anyone using a recreational vehicle on the trail would be out there to run other people down. I’d love to give these people the opportunity to use our trail. That is the point of the recreational trail is for people to get out and use it,” said Council Member Scottie Moore. Before voting, Ver Steeg also had this to say “A year from now if it proves to be unsafe, I’ll be the first one to try to get this thing repealed.” The vote to allow golf carts on the trail was a unanimous vote with all members present.

In other action, the city council:

• Unanimously approved a request from the Chamber of Commerce to hold the Christmas Parade on December 1st and 2nd using the same route as in years past.
• Approved on a 6-1 vote (with Council Member Blomgren voting No) the second reading of an ordinance to no longer require automatic water sprinklers in in all new residential homes and town homes
• Unanimously approved a resolution setting the fee of using a golf cart on the recreational trail at $20
• Received a report from students from the University of Iowa on solid waste collection in Oskaloosa.
• Received a report from Public Works Director Akhilesh Pal on Oskaloosa road projects

The next meeting of the Oskaloosa City Council will be May 16th at 6:30 pm in the Oskaloosa City Council Chambers.