Golf cart proposal is back in play

A proposal to allow golf carts on city streets is back in play before the Eunice Board of Aldermen.
The city meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Eunice Municipal Complex, 300 S. 2nd St.
The golf cart use is once again being brought to the board by the Rev. Lloyd Antoine.
At a meeting to set the agenda for the meeting, Vernon McManus, city legal counsel, said the city needs to know if allowing golf carts to operate on city streets would increase the city’s liability insurance premium. If it does, McManus suggested the board factor any increase into the cost of permits or licenses for golf carts.
Police Chief Randy Fontenot said golf carts are not allowed on state roads and police already do inspections on them.
“I don’t see it going to be that big of a safety issue,” Fontenot said. “It is no more dangerous than a bicycle on the road.”
Mayor Scott Fontenot said doesn’t anticipate many people operating golf carts on city streets.
Prior the meeting, public hearings are scheduled for ordinances to set the city marshal’s salary at $30,000; designate the fire chief to conduct investigations in the cause of fires when there is a loss of life, injuries or property damage; and to abandon Betty Street.
The ordinances are on the agenda for a vote of the board.
Also on the agenda is introduction of an ordinance to abandon an alley in the Creswell Addition by Ardoin Marble Works.
An appointment to the library board to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of John Young prompted Jack Burson, alderman at-large, to say the Eunice library should be separated from the Opelousas library.
“I can tell you that is overdue,” Burson said.
“It really shouldn’t be that hard to do. You have communications with the mayor in Opelousas and both towns own their own buildings,” he said to Fontenot.
The agenda also includes recognizing the Eunice High and Junior High bands for their successes in competition.