By TRACI L. WEISENBACH
For the Advertiser
SEBEWAING — Village council members here approved an off road vehicle (ORV) ordinance during its regular meeting recently, as well as added sewer disconnection information to a sewer facilities ordinance and clarified the garbage, rubbish, deposit-ing and burning prohibitions ordinance.
As proposed by the Ordinance Committee, the ORV ordinance states an ORV may be operated on a road in the village at a speed of no more than 25 miles per hour or a lower posted ORV speed limit; by a person not less than 14 years of age who has a safety permit and is in the presence of a licensed adult; with the flow of traffic on the far right side of the maintained portion of the road; in a manner which does not interfere with traffic on the road; traveling single file except when overtaking and passing another ORV; while displaying a lighted headlight and lighted taillight at all hours; while the ORV is equipped with a spark arrester-type muffler in good working order, pursuant to noise emission standards defined by law. The operator and each passenger must wear a crash helmet and protective eyewear unless the vehicle is equipped with a roof that meets standards for a crash helmet and the operator and each passenger is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt (with the exception of a golf cart). On a golf cart, any person aged 16 or under must wear a seat belt.
An ORV may not be operated on any state highway, such as M-25.
The following types of vehicles fall under the definition of ORV for the purpose of this ordinance: a multi-track/multi-wheel vehicle, an ATV, a motorcycle or related two-wheel, three-wheel or 4-wheel vehicle, an amphibious machine, a ground effect air cushion vehicle or other means of transportation deriving motor power from a source other than muscle or wind. Snowmobiles and farm machinery are not included in the ORV definition.
A person violating this ordinance is guilty of a municipal civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $500.
Samples of ordinances from surrounding municipalities were reviewed by the Ordinance Committee.
As for the burning prohibition ordinance, the following language was added: Recreational burning is allowed on private property in an enclosed fire burner as long as the fire does not endanger other buildings, atmospheric conditions are favorable and only clean wood products or commercially produced fuel products are burnt. Recreational burning is not allowed on private property if the smoke or fumes irritate, annoy or constitute a nuisance to others in the neighborhood. Open burning within an outside grill/barbecue is allowed. Open burning of bonfires for recreational purposes is allowed as long as the bonfires are no more than four feet in diameter and are 20 feet from all property lines and structures. All bonfires need to be under the constant supervision of a person 18 or older.
Samples of ordinances from surrounding municipalities were reviewed.
Council members also added the following language to the sewer facilities ordinance: Sewer disconnections are the property owners responsibility, including cutting, capping and notifying the village for inspection prior to backfilling, after which billings will cease.
In other business during recent meetings, the council approved the purchase of a Kawasaki Mule utility vehicle from Reinhold Sales for $10,000. This will be for the Light and Water Department.
The council also okayed the purchase of 1575 John Deere Tractor with mower for a net cost of $21,064. This price includes two trade-ins (a Cub Cadet and John Deere tractor with mower). This purchase is being made from Tri-County Equipment and it Is for the Department of Public Works.
In other business, council members:
• Voted to hire Dan Wildner as a DPW laborer per the union contract guidelines.
• Approved a property survey for the purpose of splitting the former Lapeer Metal Stamping parcel into three parcels.
• Created an Industrial Development District on the Light and Water Department-owned property on each side of Albert Street near Pine Street. A public hearing will be conducted as required.
• Heard a report from the Light and Water Committee about a meeting with The Spicer Group to review a proposed plan for water main replacement for the following mater mains: Liken to Henry, Washington to Miller, East Bay to Beck, Frederick and Fifth and Sixth streets.
• Briefly discussed the need to update the Community Master Plan, which has not been done in about 10 years.