Golf carts and other small vehicles may now be driven on most of Kewanee’s streets, under a city ordinance.
But in a memo to the council, Police Chief Stephen Kijanowski reported that there are concerns about “roadway safety, neighborhood quality of life and ensuring the city’s UTV ordinance is being followed by registered operators.”
UTV stands for Utility Task Vehicle. While the ordinance allows these vehicles on Kewanee streets, they typically have larger engines than other recreational vehicles like golf carts and ATVs. This means they can reach speeds of more than 60 mph.
“The department currently maintains an extra patrol list that includes several areas of town where complaints have been received regarding UTV operation,” Kijanowski’s memo said. “These complaints have generally involved excessive noise, speeding and unsafe driving behavior.
“In addition to citizen complaints, staff, while off duty, have also observed UTV-related concerns, including operators driving in a manner that may be unsafe, operating in areas where issues have been reported, or otherwise failing to follow the intent of the ordinance,” the chief wrote.
Kijanowski’s memo offered some possible solutions to the problem, and at their meeting Monday, most councils preferred one of those options.
That option would be “to specifically prohibit certain sport/performance UTV model families from being registered or operated on city roadways. This may be the clearest option for residents, officers and city staff because the ordinance could identify specific model families that are not eligible for registration.”
The option then lists eight UTV models that could be excluded, and adds “Any successor model, renamed model, special edition or substantially similar sport/performance UTV” to the list.
“This approach may be easier to explain and enforce because it focuses on recognizable sport/performance model families while still allowing traditional utility-style UTVs,” the memo said. It added, “It also provides flexibility by covering successor models, renamed models, special editions, or substantially similar sport/performance UTVs that may not be specifically listed by name.”
The ordinance on recreational vehicles prohibits their use on state highways and other arterial streets, such as East Street and Division Street. But some people apparently aren’t aware of that provision, or just choose to ignore it,
Councilman Chris Colomer, who lives on West Division Street, said he often sees UTVs speeding past his house.
“These (UTVs) are built for play,” Councilman Adam Cernovich said, “and we should not be surprised that people are using them to play on our streets.”
Kijanowski told the council that 33 UTVs are registered in Kewanee, which is 11% of the total of registered off-road vehicles.
Councilman Mike Komnick said he has his doubts about whether Kijanowski’s proposal is the right way to go. He added, however, that he plans to study the matter and might change his mind.
Any change in the off-road vehicle ordinance would go into effect when they vehicles have to be registered next year, City Manager Kasey Mitchell said.
