It was another lengthy meeting for the Crothersville Town Council last Tuesday, Mar. 6, as they dealt with a variety of matters.
After introducing an ordinance to allow 4-wheelers and other ATVs to operate on town streets in February, the council gave first reading to the ordinance. If approved, ATVs, UTVs, as well as previously approved golf carts could be driving on town streets.
But the matter raised some concerns.
The ordinance allows 4-wheelers to operate 24-hours a day. Council president Ardell Mitchell said he was concerned about 4-wheelers riding at night and the related noise for residents. He acknowledged that “other states allow for 4-wheelers to be ridden in their communities. But we will be the first in this area. We’ll just have to see if this will work out,” he said.
Operators of 4-wheelers and UTVs (John Deere Gators, Polaris Rangers and other similar side-by-side seating off-road vehicles) must be a licensed driver, have the vehicle registered with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and obtain an annual $20 registration from the town.
The ordinance provides that if operators violate speeding or other traffic laws or the ordinance’s safety clause, the local registration can be revoked.
A unique aspect of the ordinance is that any violation also applies to the ATV. If a son or daughter rides a parent’s ATV and violates traffic laws or the ordinance, the 4-wheeler loses its registration. Meaning parents could not ride it legally on town streets.
Councilman Derrick Minton, who introduced the ordinance, said he estimated that there would be 200 applicants for local registrations. He indicated that 4-wheelers can already operate legally on county roads and he speculated that many living outside the town limits would acquire local registrations to run errands and for a more economical means of travel into town.
Answering the questions of noise and 4-wheel operators going “off-roading” through residents’ yards, councilman Lenvel ‘Butch’ Robinson said, “If this causes havoc, we can rescind it.”
The matter will come up for a final vote at the council’s April meeting.
The council opened remodeling proposals for renovating the former Methodist Church Annex into a new town hall. Five area businesses offered proposals for work.
Sam Kuehn Construction of Crothersville bid a total of $37,141.25 including $28,626.25 for carpentry, $1,720 for plumbing, $2,400 for heating and air conditioning and $4,395 for electrical.
Riley’s Home Improvement of Scottsburg bid a total of $34,773 including $21,238 for carpentry, $1,860 for plumbing, $1,875 for HVAC, and $9,800 for electrical work.
Nehrt’s Construction of Crothersville bid $20,244 including $15,574.70. $1,177.20 for plumbing, $977.80 for HVAC and $2,600 for electrical.
Brumett Builders entered a proposal just for carpentry work at $30,500. Crothersville Heating and Air entered a proposal for just HVAC of $1,583.53
The council took the proposals under advisement and expects to award the work at the April 3 council meeting.
The council gave approval for two double-wide mobile homes to be placed inside the town limits.
Mitchell said his interpretation of the town’s mobile home ordinance did not apply to homes on permanent foundations.
Ashley Sizemore was given approval to place a doublewide on Seymour Road. A single-wide mobile home will be removed from the location and the large structure will be placed on a permanent foundation.
Randy Smith was given approval to place a doublewide on East Walnut Street in the Calloway Addition. He was told that that portion of East Walnut Street is a private road which has not been accepted by the town because it fails to meet engineering specifications.
In other business, the council
•Approved purchasing cell phones for department heads to be used for town communications and business.
•Gave permission for the Red, White & Blue Festival to situate carnival workers’ campers at the Bard Street Park on paved or graveled areas during the community’s annual festival June 7-8.
•Approved improvements at the Countryside Park in preparation for the approaching Youth League ball season.
•Appointed interim Chief of Police Richard Hanlin as Chief of Police.
•Approved a $50 sponsorship to the Crothersville High School After-Prom.
•Received a proposal of $23,735.30 to grind 1.5 inches of asphalt off Howard Street from the stoplight to Preston Street and overlay the street with 1.5 inches of new asphalt.
