Golf carts on rec trail polarizes city council

By ANDY GOODELL
The Oskaloosa Herald

OSKALOOSA July 08, 2009 10:42 am

— Golf carts might still be able to get on the recreation trail in Oskaloosa.
At Monday’s Oskaloosa City Council meeting, a divided council struck down a motion to maintain a 2006 ordinance banning the vehicles from the trail.
Several citizens voiced their opposition to allowing golf carts on the trail before the council’s decision came down.
Jerry and Sandy Bottenfield where two of those citizens.
The Bottenfields live at 105 Sheriff Ave., which is will soon share space with the recreation trail. Sandy’s concern is that the property she and Jerry have shared for the past 36 years will no longer be relatively peaceful and quiet if golf carts are allowed on the trail.
“Once they put that trail in, my world will cease as I know it,” said Sandy to the council.
They have given permission for the trail to be in such close proximity to their home, however Sandy said that’s all she and Jerry want to give.
“We’ve given up several feet of our yard, our privacy, our security and our peace of mind,” Sandy said.
Jerry then urged the council to maintain the 2006 ordinance and said most recreation trails in Iowa prohibit motorized vehicles.
“Are all those people really dumber than we are,” Jerry asked in reference to recreation trails in Iowa that don’t allow motorized vehicles. “I have yet to hear a logical argument for golf carts on this trail.”
Councilman Aaron Ver Steeg took the other side in the debate over golf carts on the recreation trail.
It’s not about golfers getting to the golf coarse via the recreation trail, according to Ver Steeg. He wants individuals who are unable to walk the trail and do not have an electric wheel chair to be able to be on the trail in a golf cart. He added, there will not be as many golf carts on the trail as people may think.
“I think people are getting the wrong interpretation of what this is all about,” said Ver Steeg.
Councilwoman Lori Smith offered her insight on the use of golf carts on the recreation trail.
Smith said she knows there are a handful of people who would be inclined to use the trail to get to the golf course via a golf cart. However, Smith said she cannot imagine people would do that from the north side of Oskaloosa in order to reach one of the golf courses on the south side of town.
There are individuals who travel on Lincoln Avenue/F Street to get to Edmundson Municipal Golf Course. Smith warned that this is often an unsafe alternative to using the recreation trail.
“That’s a really, really unsafe road,” said Smith.
Smith encouraged further discussion on the matter, including the idea of inspecting and registering golf carts allowed on the recreation trail. She added, the trail is not meant to accommodate golfers alone.
“Our two main concerns are safety and access by all,” Smith pointed out.
Following the discussion and vote, Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Dixon suggested the issue be addressed by the city’s safety committee once again.
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City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com

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