PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
CHIEF WEIGHS IN … Swanton Police Chief John Trejo shares his concerns on the potential for expanded golf cart usage by residents in the village during a special public hearing.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Only one resident shared their comments with the Swanton Village Council during a public hearing on the proposed relaxation of regulations of the driving of “low-speed vehicles” on village streets after the council’s most recent regular meeting.
The proposal – initiated by Councilman John Schmidt – included the opening of Main Street to golf carts and other low-speed vehicles, as well as the potential lowering of the speed limit on the portion of Hallett Avenue from Chestnut Street to Airport Highway from 40 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour, which would allow such vehicles to take that route as well.
Currently, golf carts and other low-speed vehicles, which are properly equipped and licensed and operated by a licensed driver, may be driven on any village street other than Main Street, which has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or lower.
A low-speed vehicle is defined in the Ohio Revised Code as “a three- or four-wheeled motor vehicle with an attainable speed in one mile on a paved level surface of more than twenty miles per hour but not more than twenty-five miles per hour and with a gross vehicle weight rating less than three thousand pounds.”
Police Chief John Trejo was invited to share his thoughts on the proposal. Trejo said he was largely concerned with vehicles attempting to pass golf carts, potential visibility issues, the possibility of rear-end collisions as they turn off roads into properties, and the risk for more serious injuries from a collision than would be seen in a collision between two standard motor vehicles.
“You don’t have the airbags, you don’t have framework inside the vehicle that’s keeping people safe, those things they build into those – the engineers make for those vehicles,” Trejo said.
He also said the potential speed limit change on Hallett would bring its own issues. “I think this is something that, if it was considered to be changed, it’s gonna take some time for those speed limits adhered by.
“I don’t think it’s something that’s gonna change overnight, people would still be driving 40 if we changed that speed limit. I think that next day they’d be just right back up to 40,” Trejo said.
Schmidt said he didn’t believe the vehicles would be that big of an issue on Hallett, that his goal was to open up access to restaurants, parks, shopping, and services by finding a way for the vehicles to be used on that road.
He also said he had heard residents were concerned that relaxing the regulations would turn Swanton into a campground but pointed out the vehicles should not be driven on grassy areas or sidewalks.
The only resident who spoke on the proposal was Jeff Pilliod, who wanted clarity added to any final ordinance to differentiate between golf carts, side-by-sides, and mini trucks.
Pilliod said he owns a side-by-side, which has a full roll cage and netting in addition to a windshield and the other equipment necessary to make any vehicle street legal, such as headlights, taillights, seat belts, and turn signals.
Village Administrator Shannon Shulters said she would draft an ordinance based on the proposal and information shared at the public hearing for council members to discuss at their next meeting, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 24, at 219 Chestnut Street.