COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A public hearing will be held during Tuesday afternoon’s Branch County Board of Commissioners meeting on a proposed ORV ordinance.
The Commissioners formally approved a draft ORV ordinance on February 6 and moved forward with the next step in the process which was the scheduling of the public hearing.
Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m..
Administrator Bud Norman said in February that all cities, villages and townships have been contacted and the feedback included confirming that the maximum speed would be 25 mph and that headlights and taillights would be on at all times.
He added it was asked that ORV’s not be on the road when visibility is reduced.
A state law says they can be on the road 30 minutes before daylight and 30 minutes after daylight.
There was also a request that signs and flags be displayed on ORV’s.
John Massey of Coldwater first proposed the ordinance to Commissioners last October. Golf carts are not a part of the proposed ordinance.
Commissioners have made no significant changes to the proposed ordinance which was drafted by County Prosecutor Zach Stempien.
This will be like opening Pandora’s Box. I have seen this in other towns and villages and it was later repealed. In a perfect world it would be fine, but this definitely is not a perfect world.