'The dumbest idea': Council rejects move to expand Ocala's golf cart boundaries
A divided Ocala City Council on Tuesday declined to adopt a resolution to expand the official golf cart boundaries to include portions of downtown.
The vote was 3-2, with council President Ire Bethea and council members James Hilty and Jay Musleh voting in the majority. Council members Kristen Dreyer and Barry Mansfield were in the minority.
The existing golf cart boundaries are Southeast 17th Street to the south, East Fort King Street to the north, Northeast 25th Avenue to the east and Third Avenue to the west.
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The map went into effect in early 2020. Ocala police officials said they've had no significant incidents involving golf carts.
If approved, the area where golf carts are allowed would have expanded to include the portion of downtown bordered by Southeast Eighth Street to the south, Silver Springs Boulevard to the north, Watula Avenue to the east and Pine Avenue to the west. That includes the downtown square and the Ocala Post Office area.
Jessica Fieldhouse, executive director of Ocala Main Street, told council members that downtown businesses favored expansion of the boundaries. Fieldhouse said 80 percent of business owners surveyed were in favor of the proposal.
Calling it an economic driver, Fieldhouse said those walking, riding bicycles or traveling in golf carts spent 40 percent more than people in vehicles.
But Hilty said the revised map is "the dumbest idea." He said it would be "a disaster" if it was approved.
Mansfield said the idea could work if everyone slows down and pays attention to where they're going.
Bethea said he could see a problem if golf carts were able to go to Pine Avenue, and had mixed feelings about the subject.
In other Ocala news:
$200,000 settlement reached
Council voted 5-0 to approve a $200,000 settlement with former firefighter Preston Bowlin, who now is the county's director of emergency management.
According to documents provided by the city, both parties reached the settlement agreement, which stems from two incidents: one in June 2015, when Bowlin's lumbar spine and left hip were injured; and another in June 2016, when Bowlin sustained an injury and was diagnosed with disabling hypertension.
Bowlin was employed by Ocala Fire Rescue at that time. He retired as a captain in 2017 and in the same year became Marion County's emergency management director.
The agreement stipulates that Bowlin's lawyer, Jason Fox of Tampa, will receive $50,000 of the $200,000 settlement.
Recognition offered
OPD officers, OFR USAR Task Force 8 Team members and Ocala Electric Utility employees were honored for their deployment to assist residents in south Florida after Hurricane Ian.
In a separate recognition, local lawyers Pat Gilligan, Robert W. Batsel Jr. and Jimmy Gooding were honored for serving as the city's attorneys for 30 years.
Combined, the trio each took turns advising and representing the city in various matters. Gilligan, Gooding and Batsel each thanked city officials in their speeches.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala, Florida council won't allow golf carts downtown in 3-2 vote
