Grove Hill ponders sidewalk golf carts
By Jim Cox

Can golf carts legally operate on Grove Hill's sidewalks? The question prompted a good bit of discussion at Monday's council meeting and the town's attorney has even researched the issue with no satisfactory answer.

Mayor Lamar Hudson said that he has had complaints about speeding golf carts on the sidewalks from some walkers, mostly elderly citizens. The carts are frequently driven by children or teenagers.

Town Attorney Bruce Wilson said he could find nothing in the code that makes the golf carts illegal on sidewalks. They could be in violation of the rule of the roads, he said.

Under-age, or juvenile drivers, could pose another problem if and when a consensus is reached on the carts' legality on sidewalks. Juvenile driver cases could have to go to county juvenile court.

Wilson said a law prohibiting four wheelers and other similar vehicles on sidewalks in Gadsden specifically exempts golf carts.

There are a multitude of golf carts in Grove Hill and they are driven on the sidewalks a lot. The recent renovations that extended the width of sidewalks in many neighborhoods made them perfect for golf carts.

Council member Pat McGraw said the problem will only get worse after Christmas because a lot of people will probably be getting the carts as presents.

Other business

The council passed a resolution asking TDS Telecom to reconsider closing the Grove Hill office although there was little discussion of the issue.

The council voted to give employees two days off for Christmas, Monday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Dec. 26. The town will also take Monday, Jan. 1 and Tuesday, Jan. 2 although employees usually only get one day off for New Year's.

Because January's meeting dates fall on holidays, the council voted to meet Thursday, Jan. 4 and Thursday, Jan. 18 instead.

The council agreed to hire Ryan Graham to handle the bypass landscape project that the town has received a grant for. He will be paid 8 percent of the total landscape project budget for his work.

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