LEESBURG – Attention, young teens and tweens: Your days of driving a golf cart in town are over.
The Leesburg Town Board on Monday approved an ordinance regulating the use of golf carts.
The board discussed details of the ordinance at its October meeting, but because board member Tom Moore was unable to attend the group waited until Monday to approve it.
A driver’s license is not necessary with the new ordinance, but anyone who drives a golf cart must be 16 or older.
“We didn’t want to take any form of conveyance from someone who desperately needs it,” said board member Doug Jones, referring to older members of the community who no longer drive.
Jones said the ordinance became necessary after many complaints from town residents. Complaints have included carts going too fast, traffic laws being ignored, and even teens texting and driving.
In response to an audience member’s question, Jones said town officials will enforce the ordinance. When a violation is spotted, someone from the town will find out from the young person(s) who their parents are and then talk to them.
“If we can’t get people to police their own kids, we will do it for them,” he said.
In other business:
• Board President Christina Archer gave a reading on the history of Veterans Day, the 100th anniversary of which was Monday. She noted flags honoring all branches of military service were on display downtown.
• Six yellow warning tags were placed on vehicle windshields in violation of the town’s “no parking from 3 to 5 a.m.” ordinance within the last month.
• Clerk-treasurer Mike Searfoss said the town needed to come up with an official statement saying what the Rainy Day Fund could be used for. Members agreed it was “anything not covered by the budget.”
Town attorney Vern Landis said he would put the resolution together.
• Jones sent the board’s good wishes to Ron West, who is recovering from a stroke.
• The final date for leaf pickup is Nov. 30.
• The annual candelaria will be Dec. 7.
A work session to discuss the town’s salary ordinance is planned for 6 p.m. Monday. The next regular board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Both meetings are in the town hall.
