WARSAW — A roundabout is set to be put in the intersection of Mariners Drive and Husky Trail next spring.

During the Warsaw Traffic Safety Commissions meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 2, City Planner Jeremy Skinner informed the commissioners that some preliminary work is being done with utilities on Husky Trail but construction for the roundabout will officially begin next spring.

The commissioners also continued discussion about a golf cart ordinance that would allow individuals to drive golf carts in certain areas of Warsaw. Once the wording of the ordinance is agreed upon, they city council has final say on whether or not it the ordinance will be adopted.

Lieutenant Kip Shuter began the discussion by saying, “We’ve go to vet this whole thing out…before asking for recommendation of the council.”

Mayor Joe Thallemer stated he had recently attended a mayor’s roundtable that consisted of mayors from neighboring towns. He mentioned they had discussed what their communities had done with the issue of golf carts in town. Thallemer said he wondered if requiring golf carts to have turn signals would be too cumbersome to add to the ordinance.

They commissioners agreed to change the ordinance to reflect that turn signals must be retrofitted to a golf cart in addition to having brake lights.

Both Patrol Captain Joel Beam and Shuter voiced their concerns with allowing golf carts to roam the streets, despite the restrictions the ordinance would place upon golf cart drivers.

“It scares me working a golf cart versus car accident,” stated Beam. Beam questioned whether it would be plausible for the ordinance to require licensed golf carts to have seat belts.

The commissioners did not believe seat belts in golf carts to be a common occurrence, but they mentioned if the ordinance is passed, they could add additional safety measures at any time after more research had been done on the issue.

Shuter voiced his disapproval of the ordinance, “I’ve been sitting on this board for 25 years and I think this is a step back,” said Shuter. “I don’t think this belongs in our city.”

Shuter acknowledged the traffic in Warsaw has become more congested over the years which makes streets unsafe for golf carts.

Council member Mike Klondaris defended the ordinance by saying, “Golf carts are here…It’s not perfect but it gives people some guidelines.”

The commissioners voted 2-3 in favor of not giving a recommendation of approval of ordnance to the city council. From there, the city council will decide whether to adopt the golf cart ordinance without the approval of the traffic commission.

Other News

• Commissioner Dirk Felger informed the commissioners that four pedestrian flashing lights will be put in place in front of Lakeview Middle School on Smith Street. The lights will be activated by pedestrians pushing a button.
• Construction on Main Street will officially be completed within the next few weeks.