CHAMPION — Township trustees voted 2-1 against allowing golf carts on roads in the community.

Trustees Rex Fee and Rick York voted against golf carts, mini trucks and other under-speed vehicles on the roads, while trustee Doug Emerine wanted to allow them on some township roads.

Fee said while he understands some residents want to be allowed to use golf carts to get places in the community, he said golf carts are not held to the same traffic and safety standards as vehicles on the roads, such as obeying traffic signals.

“My concern is if someone on a golf cart gets hit by someone going 35 mph or more in a car. My concern is for their safety being on a road,” Fee said.

York agreed with Fee’s concerns.

“I am 100% against it,” York said. “I saw someone driving a golf cart on Mahoning Avenue with two (people) sitting and two standing. They crossed over Mahoning Avenue. That is a safety issue. I am not in favor of golf carts on the roads,” York said.

Emerine understands he was outvoted and the issue was defeated, but he has heard from residents who want to drive golf carts from their homes to golf courses. He said he has no issue with golf carts on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, but not on state routes, which are busy.

Emerine said when he goes on vacation, some places allow golf carts on roads.

Newton Falls and Weathersfield officials also have been addressing golf carts.

In other business, Emerine said he has received calls from residents about transient vendors going door to door soliciting for their business. Police Chief Larry Skaggs confirmed the vendors have left the township after being spoken to by police.

Also, Emerine said that with less rainfall in recent weeks, there has been fewer flooding problems in parts of the township. Following continual heavy rainfall earlier this summer, trustees dealt with concerns from residents about flooded roads, driveways, yards and basements.

In other action, trustees:

• Hired Jakob Paxter as a part-time firefighter / paramedic at $17 per hour. He works full-time in Howland.

• Approved a motion requiring those who do excavation in a township highway right-of-way must obtain a $50 permit when installing a driveway culvert.

• Approved a department head spending threshold that requires prior approval from trustees and the fiscal officer for purchases of more than $1,500 or more for purchase orders.

• Approved $1,300 in repairs to a police cruiser after a crash.

• Received a $600 donation from the Champion Youth Soccer League to offset the cost of field maintenance.