Council ponders allowing golf carts on Worthington city streets

Kari Lucin, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·3 min read

Jul. 25—WORTHINGTON — Golf carts may soon appear on city streets in Worthington, as members of the Worthington City Council asked staff to research the matter.

"I brought this forward after being approached by quite a few people," said Councilman Chad Cummings.

In March 2001, the city authorized the permitting of motorized golf carts, but restricted permits to institutions where at least 15 elderly or disabled persons lived — and limited issuing those permits to two per year.

Minnesota law allows cities to authorize motorized golf carts on their own roadways, but allows them only on designated roads from sunrise to sunset, unless they have original equipment headlights, taillights and rear-facing brake lights.

Cummings said many snow birds who live in southern communities during the winter have golf carts, and noted that many manufacturers are producing fully street-legal golf carts with proper headlights, taillights and blinkers.

"Having the street legal one, it'd be nice to be able to get to and from the course here now that there's no longer paid cart storage at the local course," Cummings said. GreatLife's change causes complications for golfers with golf carts who don't live right on the golf course.

North Mankato recently voted to allow street-legal golf carts on its streets with a permit.

Cummings said he'd prefer the city at least explore the idea of not limiting cart usage to sunrise-to-sunset, partly because the golf course has a restaurant, and he would prefer people to be able to eat supper after a round of golf.

One issue with the potential revision is that state law limits the city's new rules to streets where it has jurisdiction — and most of the roads immediately leading to the golf course are within the jurisdiction of Nobles County.

City Administrator Steve Robinson said the city would gather information and create some draft ordinances. He also said he'd recommend some specific provisions for the revision to the ordinance.

In other news Monday, the council:

* Had a public hearing for review of its new storm water pollution prevention plan.

* Introduced and administered the oath of office to two new police officers — Ivan Martinez and Ernesto Rivera Mercado.

* Awarded a contract for demolition of the former Lakeshore Service Station to Nienkerk Companies at a cost of $58,950.

* Approved a rental agreement for Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center for $35,000 for one year, $36,500 the following year and $38,000 the third year, with District 518.

* Awarded a contract for construction of a sanitary sewer and water main on North Humiston Avenue from Oxford Street North to Ryan's Road to Duininck, Inc., for $797,246. The other bidder was Henning Construction with $1.05 million, and the engineer's estimate was $972,835.

* Approved a conditional use permit for Les Schwab Tire Centers to build an automotive repair shop on the former Runnings site. In addition, the council approved a plat dividing the Prairie Justice Center land into three portions and agreed to eliminate a conditional use permit requirement for a fence behind the JBS Fieldhouse, though indicated they would be interested in seeing plans for a fence or other barrier behind its other properties nearby.

* Approved a proposal for a new comprehensive housing study at a cost of $17,500, as the previous study is five years old and shifts have occurred due to the pandemic and inflation.