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By KEVIN NEVERS Golf carts on Town of Chesterton streets or no golf carts? At the moment--and as of July 1--no golf carts. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Police Commission, Police Chief George Nelson told members that a change in Indiana Code which took effect on July 1 effectively forbids the use of any golf cart on a municipal right-of-way unless that municipality has enacted an ordinance specifically allowing the use of golf carts. The issue was raised at the meeting from the floor by Paul Tharp, a golf cart user himself, who noted that he’d seen a story in the Chesterton Tribune to the effect that state law now bans golf carts on municipal rights of way unless local code has been amended to provide for them. Has local code been so amended? Tharp asked Nelson. It has not been, Nelson replied, although at his request Associate Town Attorney Chuck Parkinson is currently at work researching the issue. Tharp observed that a number of residents--prior to July 1--used golf carts to travel through town and save gas costs, and that a business in town sells golf carts. “The main problem we have is that not everybody is as conscientious as you,” Nelson told Tharp. “I know your golf cart is basically safe. And I know you operate it safely.” Nelson said that Indiana Code formerly defined golf carts as low-speed vehicles and permitted their use on municipal rights-of-way so long as they met certain conditions. As of July 1, however, that law dropped golf carts from the low-speed vehicle definition. Nelson added that, so far as he knows, no citations or warnings have been issued to residents since July 1 for violations of the new law. Oz Parking In other business, members voted 3-0 to establish the following parking bans for the Wizard of Oz Festival: *At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, the entire Downtown area must be free of all parked vehicles to allow for festival setup. South Calumet Road from West Indiana Ave. north to the Norfolk Southern tracks, Broadway from South Calumet to Fourth Street, and 2nd and 3rd streets from Broadway to West Indiana will all be closed and barricaded. “If you are a Downtown business owner be sure to make your patrons aware of this restriction,” the CPD said. “If you are an apartment resident of the Downtown area be sure to make arrangements for you vehicle to be parked elsewhere. In the event any vehicle is left behind, it will be removed via tow truck.”*From 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, parking will be prohibited along Fourth Street from Broadway to West Indiana, in advance of the Oz Parade. “As soon as the parade is over the parking restrictions will be lifted and regular parking resumes.”*Only during the Munchkin signing event at The Flower Cart, parking will be banned along East Indiana Ave. immediately west of the business. Tornado Debrief Meanwhile, members agreed by consensus to instruct Nelson to send letters of gratitude to the various law enforcement agencies which assisted the CPD in the hours after the tornado roared through town on Aug. 19. The most up-to-date list of responding agencies: Burns Harbor, Porter, Ogden Dunes, the Porter County Sheriff’s Police, the DNR Division of Law Enforcement, and troopers from both the Lowell District and the Indiana Toll Road District of the Indiana State Police. “These other agencies really helped out big time.” In addition, Valparaiso Police Chief Mike Brickner called Nelson at home almost immediately after hearing news of the tornado to offer help and Assistant Chief Richard Spicer called the next day to follow up, Nelson said. Nelson also expressed his pride in the CPD’s own officers and reserves for their hard work during the recovery. “I just want to say how well not only the police department but everyone in town responded,” Member Mark Acevedo added. “We really met the challenge. And the cleanup was amazing.” “I saw the officers out controlling the situation,” President Steve Brickner noted. “They did an outstanding job making sure everything got done safely. Quality of Life Activity In August Sgt. Fred Shivalec, the CPD Directed Patrol Officer, investigated two new citizen complaints: speeding vehicles in the 200 and 300 blocks of West 15th Street and on Joliet and Crocker streets. He also participated in the Operation Lifesaver crossing detail on Aug. 25. Last month Shivalec issued 36 written warnings and no citations. August in Review In August the CPD responded to 1,417 calls (1,435 in July), filed 100 cases (90), issued 63 citations and 131 warnings (64 and 115), filed six felony charges and 29 misdemeanor (11 and 32), served four warrants (one), and investigated 33 accidents with 20 injuries (37 accidents with 10 injuries). No juvenile cases were assigned in August (two were in July, neither closed). Calls for service in August included 48 alarms (47 in July), 22 animal complaints (12), two reports of battery (two), three burglaries (five), 10 domestic calls (nine), 20 reports of fraud (11), one missing person (two), one motor vehicle theft (one), 20 parking violations (11), 16 residence checks (16), three runaways (one), one sex offense (zero), one report of shoplifting (three), one suicide (zero), 54 suspicious circumstances (43), 20 suspicious persons (28), 32 suspicious vehicles (39), 22 thefts (25), 147 traffic stops (139), four train complaints (nine), 19 incidents of vandalism (20), 13 miscellaneous juvenile complaints (28), 12 noise complaints (14), five fireworks complaints (19), and two reports of counterfeit bills (one).
Posted 9/10/2009 |
