KINGWOOD – The City of Kingwood is considering an ordinance that would allow ATVs on Kingwood city streets, in accordance with West Virginia State code.
Councilman Mike Lipscomb said he didn’t have a problem with ATVs on state roads, but didn’t support having ATVs on city roads.
Police Chief Charlie Haney said he didn’t believe it would pose a problem as long as the ATVs were registered. He said there are currently some on the roads that are not safe.
Councilman Josh Fields, who made the proposal for the ordinance, said under the state code the owners of the ATV would have to have insurance and a license, and the vehicle must be inspected. He said the state inspection is equivalent to the one needed to operate a motorcycle.
Under the law, any operators under the age of 18 must have a certificate indicating successful completion of a vehicle rider safety course. The course is free to take.
Any operator or passenger on an ATV who is under 18 must wear a size-appropriate helmet, and may not carry a passenger unless the operator possesses a level 2 intermediate driver’s license.
The motion passed, with only Livengood voting against it.
In other business, Kingwood is considering using tags to identify garbage pick-up customers who have been suspended from service.
City Clerk Michelle Whetsell told council members both S&K and Sunshine Sanitation use tags to identify suspended customers.
“We may be picking up garbage from customers that have been suspended,” she said. ”If we get tags for the drop sites, workers will know if they don’t see the tag, not to pick up the garbage in that area.”
Whetsell said she would check on prices for the tags.
Council also discussed having dumpsters in enclosures.
Councilman Dick Shaffer said he is against it. He said if a cable snapped someone could be trapped inside the dumpster.
“If the dumpsters are kept clean and their lids are on tight they don’t look that bad,” he said.
It was also noted someone has to be inside the dumpster to operate the lever.
Mayor Jean Guillot asked for a list of dumpsters and recommendations be compiled for the next council meeting.
Council set this year’s e-cycling event for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 21, and is considering imposing a fee for disposing CRTs.
The city will have a truck available to load the CRTs on, and city workers will take them to the transfer station. The CRT fee will be used to pay for their disposal.
Council members vetoed the purchase of a new police vehicle, saying they would like to get issues at the transfer station taken care of before making any large expensive purchases.
“We have issues at the transfer station that’s eating us up,” Guillot said.
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