GUERNSEY - An ordinance requiring registration and specific use for golf carts passed on first reading, 3-2 with Mayor Ed Delgado putting in the deciding vote. Councilmen Dale Harris and Kellie Augustyn were opposed to the ordinance.

Golf Cart Ordinance 2024-02, section 5-1-7 of the town code, is proposed to clarify drivers of golf carts as defined, must possess a valid a driver’s license, carry only four total passengers, only be used to go directly to, from or on the golf course or be used for special events or circumstances authorized by city or county government, have a current Guernsey or other recognized golf club usage sticker placed in a visible location, and can only be operated during daylight hours and can travel no faster than 15 miles per hour.

Councilwoman Penny Wells said she is in favor of the ordinance. “I feel like it is a safety issue. I’ve had many people tell me they’ve almost been hit by kids driving golf carts and not paying attention to rules of the road,” she said. “In the last administration this issue came up and the former mayor delayed bringing it to a vote, then Mayor Delgado said he wants city golf carts licensed and street legal. I don’t understand why it is a problem for people who golf for fun to get their golf cart licensed?”

“Seeing kids have to be 16 to drive golf carts on the streets makes sense,” Wells concluded.

Augustyn explained his dissenting vote: local government should remain local, and citizens should be able to use golf carts how they want. “If they want to drive their golf cart to the post office or other business, why not? They’ve allowed it for years.” he said. “How it was written and brought up, there is a lot of talk about licensing, but it was not represented properly in the meeting.”

Councilmen Harris said he voted “no” because he did not like some of the things in the ordinance.

Joe Michaels did not respond to inquiries made late last week.

A copy of the ordinance can be obtained by contacting Town Hall.

The ordinance must be passed in three separate readings to be enacted. The April 16 meeting was the first of those meetings. It will be read again at the May 7 council meeting.

In other business, the town council welcomed public comments; the All-School Reunion committee requested an open container permit for the reunion at Gordon Davis Park. The mayor said the town would have no issue with that as long as they keep the kids away from the beer.

Another resident discussed the lack of cleanliness in the town near his residence – he is concerned for his and his dog’s health. Last year, public works department attempted to trap rodents, but nothing was caught; the mayor said, according to ordinances already in force, liens will begin to be placed by the Town of Guernsey on properties that are not cleaned up in a timely manner.

Police Chief Jay Harrison responded to comments at the meeting in which Stacia Cook said she had asked the town to follow ordinances, then did as she was asked and contacted the town planner and police department to report issues with no results. Harrison said the person at the home in question had a legal right to be on the property.

The council, mayor and police chief were questioned by Troy Reichert about “obvious drug addicts walking around town and by our school where our children are, and crack heads in the middle of the road talking to the air and citizens having to chase them out of the middle of the road so they don’t hit them – surely this behavior is cause for arrest? We need to clean this mess up.”

Shawna Reichert proposed a solution for a volunteer, community-based neighborhood watch program (see related article in this issue).

In his report to the council, Chief Harrison said he is looking forward to working with the neighborhood watch program and added he cannot “just arrest” citizens with perceived mental health issues, because they still have civil rights. Asked by the council if he had ever been instructed not to have night shifts in the department, Harrison said he had not been told that, but to cover the town 24/7 he would need eight officers. Council and mayor requested an itemized list on what it would cost the town to get a K9 dog for the department as well as a sufficient evidence locker.

Mayor Delgado said he wants to cut down on complaints and clean up the town. He said he will have the planner contact the health department on some of these homes.

Eagle Scout prospect Nathan VanNatter, a member of Boy Scout Troop #47 proposed an enhancement for the Prairie Rest Cemetery and sought the council’s approval for his Eagle Scout project. He wants to install a metal QR code to be installed on the gravestones that would link to a cemetery directory, reverification of plots and graves to ensure they and the directory match, and a boy scout-and-volunteers overall cleanup of the cemetery.

“I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity not only earning my Eagle Scout rank but give back to the community that has given so much to me as well. With your approval, I will be able to plan a timeline and will present it in a future Guernsey Town Council Meeting,” VanNatter said.

The council approved his project.

Christa Rosera told the council there will be a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. on May 13 for Camp Guernsey Fire Department. GoGoshen will meet in Guernsey for a one-day training designed to bring more health care professionals to the area, Shawna Reichert shared, adding Leadership Wyoming are planning to be at Camp Guernsey for a military day on May 14-15.

Preparations to bore under US Highway 26 are being made, with a bladder tank being installed this week. This will result in water restrictions this summer because the bladder will only hold a quarter the amount of the current tank, maintenance director Mike Fronapfel reported. The waterline project is re-directing the waterlines from the town’s wells directly to the holding tank for a single sanitation point before water enters the community water system.

Councilman Dale Harris asked if hours at town hall could be extended, Wells wanted confirmation the police chief has been writing the police schedule as it’s never been voted on by the council, and Michaels said the potential expansion of the library and senior center building is possible through a Wyoming Business Council grant up to $750,000 available with a 10 percent commitment of the town. Councilman Augustyn said Guernsey Economic Development will be purchasing dog park ramps and other items to enhance the park. He also requested changing from two council meetings a month to just one. Mayor Delgado responded, they could try that after the fiscal year.