Henderson council adopts ordinance allowing limited golf-cart use on city streets

HENDERSON — Henderson City Council on Dec. 9 adopted Ordinance 19-50, permitting limited operation of golf carts and low-speed vehicles on certain city streets under specified safety and licensing requirements.

Police Chief Marcus Barrow introduced the ordinance during a public hearing, saying the measure was drafted with a concerned citizen who brought the issue to the department. Barrow described the proposal’s key conditions: carts must carry liability insurance, operators must be at least 16 years old, and carts are barred from streets posted over 35 miles per hour and from several state and high-traffic roads identified in the ordinance.

The measure drew multiple supporters during the public hearing. Lamont Noel, the resident who worked with Chief Barrow on the draft, said he bought a cart for his family after observing widespread use in the neighborhood and praised the ordinance’s provisions including limits on extra passengers. Other residents who spoke in favor included Bernard Alston, Jody Mooring, Alan Simmons and a resident listed in the minutes as Hal Finch; Mooring told Council he felt a 16-year minimum was too high but nevertheless urged passage because the carts helped his children learn responsibility.

City Manager Frank Frazier said written opposition was received from John Zollicoffer Jr. and John Church but reported his staff had fielded only a few calls and that, after discussion, most callers were satisfied with the ordinance’s parameters. Chief Barrow also noted the draft had not yet been reviewed by the City Attorney, as recorded in the meeting minutes.

Council Member Melissa Elliott moved approval, Council Member D. Michael Rainey seconded, and the ordinance passed unanimously. The minutes record the vote as YES: Williams, Coffey, Burnette, Rainey, Elliott, Daeke, Simmons and Daye; NO: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: None. The ordinance is recorded in Ordinance Book 10, page 717.

The ordinance includes enforcement and equipment provisions, such as potential lighting requirements and an identification sticker issued by the Police Department, and allows Council to add additional streets by later action if needed. The record shows Council adopted the rule to address safety concerns on narrow streets without curbs and to set consistent standards for liability and operator age.

The ordinance’s full text and any subsequent attorney review or street-specific adjustments will be available in the official Ordinance Book and through the City Clerk’s office.