For anyone quick to describe municipal government's response to citizens as a turtle stuck in molasses, we ask you to consider what happened at Monday's Public Safety Committee meeting.
Monroe resident Thomas Smith submitted a request to the city committee to adopt an ordinance allowing neighborhood electrical vehicles (NEVs) on city streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less.
NEVs have become popular in larger cities, mostly in the south, as a way to conserve fuel while getting around a self-sustaining neighborhood.
Smith submitted his request June 9. One week later, his request was on its way to becoming an ordinance.
The Public Safety Committee on Monday recommended to the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee (JORC) to create an ordinance allowing NEVs on city streets.
NEVs, similar to golf carts, travel at about 20-25 mph. They are equipped with the safety devices, including headlights, brakes, bumpers, windshields, seatbelts, turn signals and rearview mirrors, found on street-legal vehicles.
As recently as two to three months ago, Police Chief Fred Kelley asked the city attorney office to look into NEVs, in preparation for the day when Monroe citizens would need it. Gas prices in Monroe have hovered just under the $4 mark for a few weeks.
"Gas prices are part of it, but more so, I think, people are seeing them in other places and coming back here," Kelley said. "They are becoming more and more adopted up here."
Portage and Stoughton have ordinances regulating NEVs, and Monroe is likely to adopt a similar version.
There aren't many NEVs in Monroe, but it is becoming a more popular choice for people who work in town. Stoughton passed its NEV ordinance in February. Three months later, the city is home to an NEV dealership.
Could the same thing happen in Monroe? With various organizations trying to keep workers in Monroe and getting young professionals who have left to come back, it's possible.
There are enough businesses and residential neighborhoods packed into a small enough region to make it feasible.
Hopefully, the JORC acts as swiftly as the Public Safety Committee did. Gas prices aren't going down any time soon.
Monroe resident Thomas Smith submitted a request to the city committee to adopt an ordinance allowing neighborhood electrical vehicles (NEVs) on city streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less.
NEVs have become popular in larger cities, mostly in the south, as a way to conserve fuel while getting around a self-sustaining neighborhood.
Smith submitted his request June 9. One week later, his request was on its way to becoming an ordinance.
The Public Safety Committee on Monday recommended to the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee (JORC) to create an ordinance allowing NEVs on city streets.
NEVs, similar to golf carts, travel at about 20-25 mph. They are equipped with the safety devices, including headlights, brakes, bumpers, windshields, seatbelts, turn signals and rearview mirrors, found on street-legal vehicles.
As recently as two to three months ago, Police Chief Fred Kelley asked the city attorney office to look into NEVs, in preparation for the day when Monroe citizens would need it. Gas prices in Monroe have hovered just under the $4 mark for a few weeks.
"Gas prices are part of it, but more so, I think, people are seeing them in other places and coming back here," Kelley said. "They are becoming more and more adopted up here."
Portage and Stoughton have ordinances regulating NEVs, and Monroe is likely to adopt a similar version.
There aren't many NEVs in Monroe, but it is becoming a more popular choice for people who work in town. Stoughton passed its NEV ordinance in February. Three months later, the city is home to an NEV dealership.
Could the same thing happen in Monroe? With various organizations trying to keep workers in Monroe and getting young professionals who have left to come back, it's possible.
There are enough businesses and residential neighborhoods packed into a small enough region to make it feasible.
Hopefully, the JORC acts as swiftly as the Public Safety Committee did. Gas prices aren't going down any time soon.
