BRADNER – With the price of gas taking several jumps in recent weeks, residents may find the prospect
enticing of being able to toodle around town in a golf cart.
But during Thursday’s council meeting, member of the Board of Public Affairs, Tony Gonyer, expressed
concern that a tragedy may be waiting to happen.
He reported he was on his way to work one night around 9:30 when a young driver pulled out of his
family’s driveway with no lights on the golf cart he was using.
"It’s only going to take one time for someone to get smashed – or worse," warned Gonyer, urging
the council to put regulations on the carts it is considering allowing on village streets.
Gonyer said he quickly stopped his vehicle and told the teen, whom he suspected was not of driving age,
"You are three seconds from being dead."
"As summer gets closer, it’s going to get worse," he added.
Councilwoman Linda Wildman said the next time something like that occurs to tell the police about it.
Solicitor Chet Marcin was told about the regulations council would like added to its golf cart rules,
including two headlights, two taillights, turn signals and for the user to have a driver’s license.
Fire Chief Jim Smith reported more troubles with the fire department’s new truck, causing a reaction from
Wildman.
"We paid a lot of money for that truck, and they have messed us around for too long. Don’t we have a
lemon clause on fire trucks?" She added, "We’ve bought a lot of trucks and never had this
problem."
Smith said companies woo prospective customers and make big promises on their product, but once it’s been
built and delivered there can be problems. He noted there were problems previously with one of the
ambulances.
"I agree; it’s a real hassle," Smith stated. "You’re constantly banging on someone’s door
to get things handled."
The chief did have words of praise about the mutual aid which the department received that week for a
fire in town, citing several area departments, including Wayne and Risingsun, which helped.
"We are so thankful to have the mutual aid we have," he said. "It just seems like it all
came together. As far as working together, the departments came together."
Wildman commented she walked down to the fire’s location and, "it did my heart good to see all the
mutual aid."
BPA member Michelle Lahman announced medical insurance for the village’s three employees is going up over
18 percent. It was noted the employees pay $50 per month toward their insurance cost, no matter how many
in their family are being insured. They also got a three percent raise for 3011.
Smith urged council to think seriously about the issue and said the goal was to move toward 80/20 funding
of it, with employees paying 20 percent.
A meeting was set up to discuss the issue with representatives from both council and BPA.
Also during the meeting, council:
¥ Elected Councilman Chris Lahman as president of council.
¥ Increased police appropriations for 2011 by $3,000 to cover the raise given to police officers.
¥ Briefly discussed the need for the village’s Web site to get beyond the "under construction"
phase.
¥ Approved as an emergency ordinance placing stop signs on Railroad Street at its intersection with
Lightner Street.
¥ Re-appointed Greg Warden as the street commissioner, following a brief executive session to discuss
personnel.
¥ Heard Smith applied for a FEMA grant totalling $150,000 for complete turnout gear for each firefighter,
plus other equipment, and the village may still be in the running to receive it.