Commissioners question golf cart expansion

LYNN HAVEN — Hidden among camel analogies, there was disagreement among Lynn Haven city commissioners about a golf cart ordinance Monday.

City Manager Joel Schubert has proposed an ordinance to expand golf cart use to include a sliver of city area east of State 77 and north of State 389. The thinking was that it would allow residents in the area to drive their carts to Panama Country Club.

“This is the camel hiding his head behind the tent,” Commissioner Roger Schad said at a workshop meeting Monday. “By doing this, how do you say no to the camel going all the way in?”

Schad’s primary concern was increased work for police, specifically with children driving golf carts. Schubert said, of the 11 golf cart related stops on record, 10 involved juveniles behind the wheel.

“We’re going to have to watch them very closely,” Schubert said.

Schad said he was against the original golf cart ordinance because it was meant to “pacify Panama Country Club residents.”

Commissioner Rodney Friend said the ordinance should go even further.

“My position is tear the tent down,” Friend said. “I’d like to see it open up to more neighborhoods downtown.”

Friend did specify that he did not want carts on Tennessee Avenue or 14^th Street. Schubert thought the ordinance would be an easy sell with carts will not be able to cross over either highways 77 or 389 because of state laws.

“I have a camel blocker at 77 and 389,” Schubert said.

Saving money on paving, phones

Also Monday, it was announced that with a low bid of $209,580 from Roberts & Roberts for street paving, the city will have an extra $40,000 to work with.

Schubert said $250,000 was budgeted for seven different sections of roads in Lynn Haven, including two pieces of 17^th Street. Schubert would like to do more of 17^th Street, particularly near a ditch where box culverts are planned. At its last meeting, the commission tabled a decision on the ditch because the bid for the project was more expensive than expected. The plan is to wait six to eight months, after the new fiscal year, rolling over $250,000 intended for the project, Schubert said.

Schubert also praised city purchasing agent/grants administrator Linda LuCante for her work finding a contract with the state of Florida for telephone services.

By changing to Suncom, the city will save $8,172 and will not lose any services. Schubert said he has offered a citywide challenge to find cost saving measures and LuCante was the first to step up.

The commission will vote on these items and two others at 4 p.m. today when it meets at City Hall, 825 Ohio Ave.