Council hits pause on low-speed vehicle rules, fast-tracks drilling regulations

by Judy Stringer

Sept. 1 city council meeting

While Hudson City Council fast-tracked two pieces of legislation, it postponed action on a third-reading ordinance that would place further restrictions on golf carts and low-speed vehicles operating within the city.

The original proposal, drafted by Police Chief Perry Tabak, banned under-speed vehicles (with maximum speeds of 20 mph) from all public roads in Hudson. Low-speed vehicles (up to 25 mph) could not operate on roads over 25 mph, and mini trucks and utility vehicles would be barred from roads over 35 mph. Tabak’s other proposed rules included no operation after 9 p.m. or within the DORA area downtown, child restraints as required under state law, VIN and manufacturer requirements (i.e. no homemade builds) and an age floor to keep juveniles from driving.

At the Aug. 25 workshop, council member Skylar Sutton suggested amendments to Tabak’s proposal that would permit under-speed vehicles to operate on 25-mph roads and allow low-speed vehicles on 35-mph roads. Sutton’s amendments would also remove nighttime restrictions for mini trucks but not for the other categories and allow all categories to operate in the DORA.

Resident Jessica Cleveland asked council to consider permitting golf carts under the 35-mph threshold to cross or temporarily traverse 35-mph roads as a means to access 25-mph roads.

“Without it, many residents [with golf carts] would be unable to reach downtown, get fuel for their vehicles or even travel to the police station for the inspections. The vehicles would essentially be trapped within their neighborhoods,” she said during the Sept. 1 public comment period.

In her motion to postpone the vote, council member Patricia Goetz said she would like “a chance to talk about it more fully” at a workshop, a sentiment shared by other council members.

Council was more than ready, however, to vote on a set of new safety regulations for underground construction and horizontal directional drilling. Under the ordinance, any crew drilling or digging in Hudson must adopt nonmechanical vacuum excavation to visually verify utility locations before drilling. The new rules also call for a 3-foot buffer between new installations and existing underground infrastructure; require crews to physically expose parallel utility lines every 50 feet and every 25 feet along curb lines; and establish mandatory field checklists.

At the Sept. 1 meeting, council member Kyle Brezovec added emergency language to the second reading of the drilling ordinance. The move allowed council to pass the bill unanimously, 7-0, and put it into effect immediately.

“Any residents that I’ve spoken to that were concerned about our previous rules appreciate the work that staff put into this,” council member Dan White said. “They feel that this is a much safer way to go, and I think we’ve given this the opportunity to breathe, opportunity for comment. I think it’s right to move forward.”

Council used a similar fast-track approach on a separate measure, voting to suspend the three-reading rule and approve an increase in funding for the city’s snow and ice control program. At the Aug. 25 workshop, City Manager Thom Sheridan told council that Hudson has a limited-time opportunity to lock in last year’s road salt price for the next two winters before an expected 20% increase.

The resolution allocates $695,355 annually for the two-year contract.