On February 3rd, Clay Center City Council approved an ordinance to allow utility vehicles within city limits. Work-site vehicles, golf carts, and micro utility trucks will be eligible for in-town use. Drivers must register their vehicles and display their registration sticker clearly on the left side of the vehicle. In addition, an affixed flag needs to be displayed six feet off the ground. City Attorney Dusty Mullin, said the flag needs to be visible while the vehicle is in motion.
The ordinance goes into effect April 1st.
After a vote in November 2024 did not pass (3-4 with one abstention), Council included two amendments to the ordinance. 1) Registration and flags are not required for utility vehicles in use during city events, such as vendors at Piotique. 2) Owners will provide their own flag. Logistically, Council decided it was too difficult to provide a single flag style that would suit all vehicles.
Chair of the City’s Safety Council, Mike Schultze, said they reviewed the ordinance after receiving several calls and emails from citizens asking for the ordinance to be passed. He and City Clerk, Amelia Blackwood, also spoke with several surrounding towns with similar ordinances in place to discuss logistics. Mayor Jimmy Thatcher said he also received several calls.
The vote passed 5-3, with nays from Daton Hess, Elton Hess, and Teresa Charbonneau.
Councilor D. Hess said he voted no last year but was willing to change his vote if seat belts were required.
“A golf cart was never intended to be on the road and there’s nothing to hold you in,” he said. “You can buy them for $46 and that’s pretty cheap for someone’s life.” He also said he had researched deaths from golf cart-related accidents and how many occur annually.
Councilor Phil Kasper compared it to antique vehicles that don’t have seatbelts, or motorcycles.
“Let’s give this a try and see how it works; I think people are smart enough.”
Councilor Keith Blake suggested requiring it for vehicles when a seatbelt is in place, which Councilor Schultze said aligned with the feedback they received from other towns.
Councilor Elton Hess questioned why the ordinance was brought back to council.
“Why are we trying to appease a few people who want to ride around? It’s 1% of people who don’t get their way and want us to stop Heaven and Earth again because they didn’t get what they wanted. I represent the 98% silent majority who pay their bills, follow the rules and regulations, who stop at stop signs, and are tired of changes. It’s fine just the way it is.”
In addition, Councilor E. Hess said he preferred to see vehicles purchased at the local dealerships. He also said the bump of registration revenue is not a perk because there is an existing street tax in place.
Mayor Thatcher thanked everyone for their discussion and reminded the councilors they have been appointed to share differing opinions. He also said the ordinance could be reversed.
Councilor Schultze said the vehicles are already being driven in town, unlawfully, and there are other dangers in town, such as kids on electric scooters without helmets, or a lack of helmets on motorcycles in Kansas.
Councilor E. Hess asked if a person’s life was not worth $46; Councilor Kasper replied, “It is but I think we have to give people the benefit of the doubt and trust they’re going to make the right decisions.”
The vote ensued and passed 5-3.
Additionally, Mayor Thatcher announced that the City had been nominated for Best Nonprofit Government Agency from Grow Clay County.
A donation of $1,500 was donated toward CCCHS’s after-prom event, which is to be attended by 80 juniors and 71 seniors.
