Munday can continue its golf cart ordinance
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By James McAfee/The Knox County News-Courier—
MUNDAY—City attorney Lina Trevino presented the Munday City Council with legal updates about its golf cart ordinance and how to handle pay issues for its one-man police department in a special meeting last Tuesday at the Volunteer Fire Department Conference Room at City Hall.
Trevino indicated that the city still needed its own golf cart ordinance if it wanted to allow the carts to be driven on city streets despite earlier hearing it needed to be abandoned because of new state regulations.
The city can continue collecting administrative fees and make changes, but no formal action was taken at the meeting.
Although the new law went into effect a year ago, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles was not prepared to have license plates issued at the time and state troopers weren’t enforcing it.
However, recently troopers like Vince Gulley have been told to start issuing tickets if registration stickers were not on the carts. A check with Knox County found stickers still were not available.
The rule will require Texas residents to obtain license plates for a $10 fee. If that vehicle is sold, the new owner has to get a new one.
Just like Munday’s local ordinance, the state rule does not allow under-age drivers. They need a driver’s license. Children with a learner’s permit may operate if accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 18 years old.
The state rule also does not permit driving on state roads like Hwy. 222 here in Knox, only the ability to cross them safely.
Golf carts are considered motor vehicles and must obey all traffic laws, including stop and yield signs. Drivers must use either blinker signals or hand signage when making turns.
Trevino also indicated that overtime pay could not be given for an employee like Police Chief Chris Mendoza is exempt because of salary and administrative duties even during the time he is the only one available for duty. She did mention a possible stipend might be considered.
The council went into executive session to consider options, but took no formal action on returning.
City Manager David Trevino indicated Mendoza was told to continue looking for a second officer and Mendoza said he did have a few prospects.
In other business, the council heard from Joseph Spano of Republic Services about an option on its roll over contract and told Trevino to go ahead with hiring a manager for the swimming pool, scheduled to open June 13.
