PHOTO BY AMY WENDT/THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GOLF CART LEGISLATION … Assistant VA Aaron Alt advised that council discuss allowing golf cart travel over the Brush Creek bridge at the next capital planning work session.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
Convening for its first meeting in July, Archbold Village Council met at the Scout Cabin in Ruihley Park on Monday, July 1.
Councilors Aaron Babcock, Karla Ball, Chad Kern, and Gary Dominique were present while Councilors Vaughn Bentz and Kevin Eicher were absent. Mayor Brad Grime, Village Administrator Donna Dettling, and Assistant Village Administrator Aaron Alt were also on hand representing the village’s admin team.
Archbold resident Stuart Schnitkey attended the meeting to discuss council legislation governing the use of golf carts within the village limits and requested a modification of the current law on the books.
Schnitkey shared that he would like to purchase a golf cart but has not done so yet since he would be unable to drive it from the Woodland Oaks subdivision south of Brush Creek north into town.
He also noted that electric scooters are not prohibited from traveling south of the creek and crossing the bridge and he questioned why a golf cart would be any different.
Mayor Grime agreed with Schnitkey, noting that many community members on the south edge of town are unable to drive golf carts into the northern parts of town.
He also shared that residents living north of Brush Creek are unable to drive golf carts out to Woodland Park to watch ball games.
The current legislation addressing golf cart use, which was revised and passed in 2022, does not allow the operation of a “golf cart on any village street where the posted speed limit exceeds 25 mph.”
According to councilor Kern, when the legislation was passed restricting golf cart travel to the south end of town, it was largely due to the increased speed limit on North Defiance Street/State Route 66.
He also noted that the walking path along the Brush Creek bridge is likely not wide enough to accommodate a golf cart.
Alt acknowledged that “it would be tight” for a cart to use the walking path on the bridge but recognized that Schnitkey raised a valid point about motorized scooters traveling along the sidewalk.
Alt explained that in the past, the village explored the option of building a dedicated cart path to allow carts to cross Brush Creek.
However, after checking into space and easement requirements, they determined that the costs would be high, and the project was not pursued.
He suggested that further research could determine if the current walking path could accommodate both carts and pedestrians.
Alt also mentioned that a capital project work session for all council members will be held in July, where this topic can be discussed.
Attending the meeting on a different matter, Archbold resident Jenny Graber shared with council her thoughts on the possible revamp of the David K. Aeschliman Memorial.
While Graber supports cleaning up the current memorial and making the steps more accessible for visitors, she is opposed to tearing down the entire memorial and rebuilding the monument into something different, as this was not the original intent of the memorial’s installation.
Graber emphasized that the current configuration of steps leading up to the memorial lends a sense of honor and respect, and she would not like to see the original design lost.
She also suggested that there are other parks in the village that could potentially host an additional memorial dedicated to all branches of the military, honoring those servicemen and women.
Mayor Grime noted that the current memorial has not been well maintained over the years, is in significant disrepair, and must be made more accessible.
He emphasized that despite any improvements, it will always be recognized as the “David K. Aeschliman Memorial.” Grime also mentioned that while discussions about integrating a full veterans’ memorial have been had, no concrete plans are in place.
Addressing other items in the agenda, Council adopted the minutes from its regular meeting on June 17. The payment of bills and payroll in the amount of $605,213.32 was also approved.
In legislative items, a resolution regarding the annexation of approximately 50 acres of land to the village was pulled from the agenda since two councilors were absent.
Council also reviewed minutes from the Finance Committee meeting held on June 17 as well as the Park Board meeting packet from June 26.
Councilor Kern, Park Board Liaison, shared that the Downtown Bash was a success however he suspected attendance was down due to the record temperatures.
In reports, Administrative Assistant Donna Dettling noted that village income tax receipts for June looked “very good” as withholdings were up 6.2% and overall receipts up 18.7%.
Archbold Village Council’s next regular meeting is slated for Monday, July 15, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.