Golf cart ordinance, tax levy considered by CM Village Board

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Carrier Mills now has a golf-cart ordinance.

The village joined Galatia and Sesser in passing an ordinance permitting local residents to drive a golf cart on most village streets.

Board members Geoff Absher, Derek Field, Jim Swan and Rita Diefenbach voted in favor of the ordinance; David Kyle voted no.

The ordinance was first proposed last month, but appeared not to raise the interest of board members. Absher brought it back for consideration at the regular meeting on Tuesday.

Driving a golf cart will require a $35 permit and liability insurance starting Jan. 1. The golf carts must be street-legal and include items such as brakes, a horn, brake lights, slow-moving vehicle signs and visible tail lights.

The ordinance prohibits operating golf carts on Mill Street and U.S. Route 45. However, cart drivers may cross those streets. Golf carts, like all motor vehicles, are prohibited on the bike path.

"For residents on Mill Street, you can only access Mill Street to get to the next side street," Absher said.

The ordinance prohibits anyone under age 21 from operating a golf cart.

Fees for permits will not begin until next year, since there are only three months left in 2008, Mayor Louis Shaw said. The village will start issuing permits Oct. 1.

The ordinance will be published soon in the Daily Register/Daily Journal.

Tax levy

Shaw asked board members to consider a 10 percent increase in the village's property tax levy. Last year the entire levy was $42,235.

The village levies $7,000 for liability insurance, but the cost of insurance is more like $70,000, Shaw said. Shaw's proposed increase would all go toward the liability line-item.

"We're having an increasingly difficult time paying the premiums," Shaw said.

A 10 percent increase will require the village to publish a truth-in-taxation notice in the newspaper about the proposed increase, which is often known as a black-box notice. The board will hold a hearing on the proposed increase at the next meeting.

The board may approve a lower tax increase, or no increase at all, after the hearing. But in order to go as high as 10 percent, the truth-in-taxation hearing has to be scheduled.

Kyle expressed surprise at the proposal, saying he would have attended the most recent Finance Committee meeting if he had known the proposed increase would be discussed.

"I wish I had more time to look at it," Kyle said.

Kyle, voted against the proposal, suggested reducing a full-time employee to half-time rather than passing a tax increase. However, it appears the only place a reduction could be made is in the Police Department and the person who would be cut would probably look for a job elsewhere, Absher said.

McNew

Kris McNew, arrested last week by federal agents on child-pornography charges, was placed on administrative leave as the Emergency Management Agency co-director by Shaw and as assistant fire chief by the members of the department, with the OK of the board.

The Fire Department submits and removes its own officers subject to board approval.

The suspensions are effective until an outcome is reached in McNew's court case.

During the meeting:

- Shaw told board members there has been some discussion about temporary occupancy of motor homes, recreational vehicles and small trailers, in most cases while people are working on houses or bringing in mobile homes under the village's ordinance.

There was no action or discussion; Swan suggested the board send the issue to a committee.

- Galaxy Cable sent a letter to board members announcing a rate increase of $2.49 for village subscribers. Some premium packages will also rise by $2.

- Joe VanMeter resigned his position as one of the two animal control officers. Until his resignation, he split duty with John David Feazel, who is still willing to do it every other week. Benny Webb, a village employee, is willing to take the other weekly shift, Shaw said.

- Board members learned Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 to 10.

- Board members approved a $50 per month raise for the full-time Water Department Clerk. The part-time clerk will receive a 50 cents per-hour raise.