At last night’s Batesville City Council meeting, council members approved the purchase of two new tools to help combat speeding.
Based on the research of Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill and other city officials, members gave the go-ahead to purchase a radar-operated speed display sign along with a radar data collector.
The equipment purchases come after last month’s council meeting at which various residents voiced concern about speeding on city streets. (Click here for more on that story.)
Cockrill estimated the equipment should arrive within a month, depending on the manufacturing and shipping.
Funds used to purchase the sign display and data collector will come from proceeds of the alcohol tax which are designated for public safety purposes.
Cockrill also addressed concerns regarding the operation of golf carts on public streets.
The chief told council members he received a complaint after a golf cart accident involving minors on a city street as well as other complaints regarding carts on downtown streets.
He noted that while many residents utilize carts on public streets, particularly around the municipal golf course and The Course at Eagle Mountain, it is against the law to operate a golf cart on city streets based on the current city ordinance.
Cockrill recommended the council revisit the current ordinance, which has apparently been in effect since the 1980s, for possible revision or amending. He noted some cities allow for certain areas to be utilized for vehicles such as golf carts. Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh agreed with taking another look at the current ordinance, saying the main objective is the safety of residents. He said he plans to research similar ordinances in other cities and discuss the issue with fellow mayors at this week’s Arkansas Municipal League meeting.
In other news from the meeting, the discussion of two proposed ordinances and an emergency proclamation involving rezoning the city zoning map and the establishment of a temporary entertainment district in Riverside Park had to be moved to a special council meeting that’s now scheduled for Tuesday, June 21.
The mayor noted an emergency clause could not be passed due to only five of the eight council members being in attendance at last night’s meeting.
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