Brookhaven City Councilman Bates Mattison said people might have misunderstood his idea about using golf carts as a mode of transportation for Georgia’s newest city.
Mattison said he intended for his comments to be part of a broader discussion about alternate modes of transportation for Brookhaven. The media was more interested in the golf carts idea. The City Council discussed it during its Aug. 13 work session, but agreed the idea needs further study.
“One of the pieces that is a part of our transportation alternatives is a golf cart,” Mattison said. “I wanted to clarify that point.”
After the meeting was over, Mattison said he’d also like to clarify rules for people already using golf carts on city streets. During the regular meeting, Brookhaven City Attorney Bill Riley gave the council a copy of a draft ordinance the City of Dunwoody briefly considered. Dunwoody’s plan to provide better guidelines for golf carts didn’t go anywhere, Riley noted.
Under the draft Dunwoody considered, golf carts could go no faster than 20 miles per hour and could only operate on city streets with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour, or less.
Mattison said he thinks the conversation should continue.
“Citizens need to understand what the rules are,” Mattison said.
In other business, during the regular meeting the City Council approved paying DeKalb County $3.2 million for providing police and park services while the new city was getting ready to start its own police force and take over parks. The police department officially began patrols on July 31. Brookhaven will take over park services on Sept. 3.
City Council members said they were pleased with the arrangement they reached with DeKalb.
“I’m looking forward to a new era of cooperation with DeKalb County,” Councilwoman Rebecca Chase Williams said.