By KELLEY SHEISS
for The Post & Mail
     Residents of South Whitley who enjoy golf carts as a means of alternative transportation through town may soon fall under a new ordinance being proposed by the town council.President Tonya Porter reported at the most recent council meeting that soon the law will be changed so towns can adopt an ordinance regarding golf carts on the streets. Police chief Dave Wilkinson said his concerns are that golf carts be kept off sidewalks and the highway. Current law already states persons driving golf carts must be licensed drivers. Wilkinson will work with town attorney Greg Hockemeyer to draft an ordinance for future consideration by council members.
     South Whitley Festival committee volunteer Nancy Dome reported the festival dates are set for Sept. 18, 19 and 20 and requested state Route 5 be closed for the event. She said the same rides will return again this year, with a couple of new rides added to the mix. Porter recommended Dome check with the park board as a courtesy to use the facilities for the festival.
     County building inspector Craig Wagner was present to inform council members he has met with the engineer hired by the town to discuss the Hicks and Deaton building. The engineer is requesting the town provide a plumb survey that would report conditions of the walls.
     In order to make a final determination and recommendation, the firm is requiring this information, said Wagner. He added a local firm could conduct the survey for $400-$500 and the costs could be recouped, or Wagner said he could conduct the survey but his results may not hold up in court, if needed.
     The biggest concern, said Wagner, is the possibility of collapse since the building is leaning so much. Another option would be to get the owners together to see if there is something they could work out, but that could take forever, according to Wagner. Porter read a prepared statement, saying she felt the town has done everything they could to this point. She stated the building department has already deemed the building unsafe and she felt she was doing what was expected of her as an elected official, adding the town did not deem the building unsafe and the council was simply following judgment made by the building inspector. Council members Porter and Joan Eberhart, in the absence of John Dunn, voted to move forward with a work order and have Wagner plumb the building.
     In other building matters, Wilkinson reported he has not received word yet from the state fire marshal if the building owned by Mavis Whitehead is in compliance. One of the options for the owner was to open as a business, but she has yet to comply. Wilkinson also reported a resident at 104 N. Main Street has requested slow children playing signs be displayed in the alley that runs behind Carol’s Corner and the fire station. Porter felt it would be a good idea to do so as a precautionary measure, since most tenants who rent there usually have children.
     Wilkinson also inquired about the process for work orders on unkempt yards. Typically, if a yard is deemed unsatisfactory, a work order is sent and the town may end up mowing the property. Wilkinson questioned if a new work order must be completed for the same property each time it needs mowed. Time is the biggest thing, said Wilkinson. Porter suggested the town continue to mow the unkempt properties.
     “We will need to proceed slowly and see how it goes,” said Porter, recognizing that the properties need to be kept mowed.
     The town council will meet in executive session on July 14 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the Spears litigation.