The Bruce Board of Aldermen tabled a proposed ordinance requiring the wearing of safety helmets for bicycle riders in Bruce.
This ordinance is among requirements for a grant the town is seeking to build a bike trail in Bruce Park, but aldermen were very concerned of the impact of such an ordinance in other areas of town.
Alderman John Earl Armstrong pointed out there are “a lot of children in Bruce that don’t have access to a helmet.”
Enforcement of the ordinance was a big topic of discussion.
“We’ll have to meet with the police department on how this will be enforced,” Mayor Rudy Pope said.
“If we don’t pass it, we don’t get the grant?” Alderman Jimmy Hubbard asked.
“That’s pretty much it,” Mayor Pope said.
“And it can’t be just for the path, it would be for the whole town,” Alderwoman Ellen Shaw said.
“If you pass an ordinance, I believe you have to enforce it,” Alderman Steve Nelson said.
“Enforcement could be a warning and you work with them,” Mayor Pope said.
Shaw said she thought there may be programs the town could participate in to issue helmets to children.
“I was hoping the ordinance would be just for the new bike path,” Shaw said.
After a lengthy discussion, the board asked Mayor Pope to see if it’s possible to amend the ordinance to be enforced strictly on the potential bike path in the park and not other areas of the town without affecting the grant.
In other news, the board agreed to provide three days of paid leave for any full-time employees who suffer a death in the family. After discussion, they agreed to include all immediate family extending to grandparents.
Other items approved by the board:
•$51,000 change order for Nursing Home Lift Station project. Mayor Pope said that was “actually cheaper than first estimates.”
•An ad in the MLK Banquet program.
