By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Hillsboro City Council tabled an ordinance Tuesday that would have allowed golf carts and work site utility vehicles on city streets.

Councilman Shelby Dirks said several people shared concerns with him about allowing golf carts on city streets. Councilman Kevin Suderman said he was concerned about child safety with alternative vehicles.

Councilman Bob Watson thinks it would be impossible to fit a golf cart with adequate safety restraints.

An ordinance could require any passengers of alternative vehicles be 18 or older, City Administrator Larry Paine said.

Councilman Byron McCarty said he would only support allowing golf carts traveling to and from the golf course. Suderman thinks such a provision could be difficult to enforce. He said he knows teenagers with farm licenses who cheat the system by calling any trip farm business.

Council members generally expressed support for allowing work site utility vehicles — also known as gators — for business purposes.

The council instructed Paine to divide the ordinance into two parts — one addressing work site utility vehicles and another addressing golf carts.

In other business:

• The city employee health insurance plan will change to Midwest Public Risk from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas Oct. 1. Midwest Public Risk is a pool of many employers, which will prevent dramatic ups and downs in insurance premiums. The plan also will save the city money. It will provide vision insurance and optional dental insurance. Blue Cross/Blue Shield rates are $362 per employee. MPR would be $354.
• The council voted to adopt the Standard Traffic Ordinance and Uniform Public Offence Code. The ordinances are drafted by the League of Kansas Municipalities and are approved annually.

The next City Council meeting will be Oct. 6.