Several Frederick County Delegation Bills To Move Forward

One involves the use of golf carts on public roads in Lake Linganore.

Annapolis, Md. (KM) – Legislation to let Frederick County develop its own local laws covering the use of golf carts on public roads in the Lake Linganore area will be considered by the General Assembly. The local delegation last Friday agreed to move this bill to the full legislature where it will undergo  the process of committee hearings and votes.

The measure is sponsored by State Senator Michael Hough, which he says is enabling legislation. “Basically, this was with the Lake Linganore Association. They’re fine with this. They want it as this bill is. I think if you ask the Sheriff, he wouldn’t want a  single golf cart going around there. I don’t want to speak for him, but I don’t want to say he’s in favor of this,” Hough said.

County Executive Jan Gardner says allowing residents to operate golf carts on public roads is “a huge public safety issue.” “The Sheriff’s Office has done a PSA actually telling people to keep their golf carts off the roads. And I don’t why we want to even consider this,” she said.

But Hough points out that his bill is enabling legislation, which means the county can make the rules when it comes to golf carts on public roads, or they could take no action on this issue. “The legislation clearly says, page three, Frederick County may designate county highways. It’s up to you to designate which roads they can be on or not,” he says.

Gardner says she doesn’t want this bill to pass. “I don’t want to see enabling legislation. I just don’t think we want to have hundreds of people coming into Winchester Hall asking for golf carts. I think we should listen to our public safety partners. That’s just my opinion,” she says.

But Hough pointed out that a number of Lake Linganore residents already get around on golf carts. “There’s literally hundreds of people already on golf carts on Lake Linganore Association. So it’s already being done,” he says.

The other bills passed by legislators last Friday include one allowing for electronic tip jars. Another would take part of the marriage ceremony fee to donate to Heritage Society which maintains marriage records; and a regulation of gaming which would help Long Shots which plans to begin sports betting this year.  All will move to the full General Assembly.

A bill dealing with the County’s property tax will be taken up this coming Friday, and the Forest Conservation Bill, which is considered a state bill, was not acted on.

By Kevin McManus