Landis board OKs concealed carry on town property, golf carts on some streets
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 12, 2016
LANDIS — It only took 30 minutes Monday for the town of Landis to hold public hearings for and pass three ordinances.
The hearings, held as part of the Landis Board of Alderman’s monthly meeting, invited residents to share their opinions on proposed ordinances that would allow low-speed vehicles like golf carts on town streets, and allowed concealed carry on town property.
The town required two ordinances for low-speed vehicles — one to set down rules for the ownership and operation of the vehicles, and one to set speed limits in certain areas at 35 mph. According to the first ordinance, a low-speed vehicle may not be operated at speeds exceeding 27 mph or on roadways with a posted speed limit of more than 35 mph.
To allow the vehicles on most town roads, the board proposed an ordinance lowering the speed from 45 mph to 35 mph on portions of North Main Street, Kimball Road, Mt. Moriah Church Road and West Ryder Avenue.
While some residents opposed both ordinances, both passed unanimously. One resident, Dale Hartsell, said he owned a business on one of the roads, and would be glad of the slower traffic.
“I’ve waited for years for someone slowing people down,” he said.
The third proposed ordinance would allow residents to have concealed carry handguns on town property, provided that they had a valid concealed carry license and were carrying responsibly. Aldeman Dorland Abernathy said that if, for example, a citizen arguing during public comment were to let drop that they had a firearm, they would no longer be carrying responsibly.
“Then you have crossed the line over to irresponsible carry, then you’re no longer protected by this ordinance,” he said.
The ordinance passed unanimously, with little opposition from residents.