MARSHALL — Marshall City Council members had mixed feelings on the idea of allowing golf carts to be driven on city streets. So, they’re looking for the public’s feedback.

This week, council members voted to introduce ordinance amendments that would make it possible to drive golf carts on some Marshall streets. They also set an Oct. 22 public hearing on the matter.

Earlier this summer, the city council’s Legislative and Ordinance Committee discussed the possibility of allowing people to drive golf carts on city streets.

“This topic has come up numerous times with the Legislative and Ordinance Committee,” said Marshall City Clerk Steven Anderson. Earlier this summer, the committee voted 2-1 to bring proposed amendments to the city ordinances on ATVs and utility task vehicles (UTVs) to the council.

Anderson said the proposal would regulate where golf carts could be driven, and the safety gear they would need to have. Golf carts would not be allowed on streets with speed limits over 30 miles per hour.

“There was also requirements for seatbelts, headlights, taillights, turn signals and driver’s side mirrors. And then state statute also requires a slow moving (vehicle) emblem on the golf cart as well,” Anderson said.

“It’s just been a long-standing thing, and there’s people who are pro and people who are con. Ultimately it was decided just to bring it to city council and let everybody make their vote,” said council member and L&O Committee member Steven Meister.

“I understand the desire. I have some concerns,” said council member Craig Schafer. The big concern was safety. Golf carts can’t go very fast, and Schafer said he was worried that letting the carts mix with bigger and faster traffic would lead to serious accidents.

“I have a little bit of a hard time. I’m not opposed to bringing it to a public hearing,” he said.

Council member See Moua-Leske said she was the L&O Committee member who voted against the proposed amendment on golf carts. Moua-Leske said she also had a lot of concerns about the safety of driving golf carts on city streets, and about youth and teenagers driving the carts.

In addition to safety issues, she said, “It’s an equity and inclusion issue, because not everybody can afford (a golf cart) with the requirements you have to have, and also the cost of it. It’s also not something we can just try, because it’s not fair for people to make an investment, and then we say in a few years, ‘OK, it’s not working out.'”

“I think it’s fair that we introduce it,” and then give the public a chance to speak out, said council member James Lozinski.

Council members voted 6-1 in favor of introducing the ordinance and setting a public hearing on Oct. 22. Moua-Leske cast the vote against.