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MILFORD - For 90 days beginning April 2, the intersection of Main and Emmeline streets in Milford will be a four-way stop.
Monday, the Milford Town Council approved by a vote of 2 to 1 to try the intersection as a four-way stop as a way to help prevent accidents at the intersection. However, councilman Robert Phillips opposed the idea because there are few accidents at the intersection and none in the last three months since the last discussion on the intersection was held.
Dallas Winchester, utilities commissioner, will put stop signs at the north and south corners of the intersection and will switch blinking yellow lights to red.
Discussion on the intersection started in September and continued into the regular meetings in October and November. A special meeting was held on the topic on Nov. 21. Councilmen then decided to do nothing until the March meeting. One concern during those discussions was parking and how it affected the intersection.
Councilman Douglas Ruch initially suggested the four-way stop and removing some parking spots. He suggested the four-way stop sign be put in the middle of the intersection. However, Winchester said that may cause some liability for the town if an accident occurred and it would not give an accurate account of how traffic would be altered if there was a four-way stop at the intersection.
"If we try nothing and do nothing, nothing will ever happen," said Ruch.
Two men in the audience said they were opposed to the removal of parking spaces because it would be bad for the downtown businesses.
Bernice Dwyer, a concerned resident, said there is a visibility problem at the intersection. "To go out into the middle of an intersection (to see oncoming traffic) is a problem," said Dwyer.
Winchester said if the doctor's office in downtown Milford restriped their parking lot, they could gain some parking.
Lehman wanted to try a four-way stop and then take public input as to whether it's a good idea or not.
"If we wait for public input on everything we do," said Phillips, "they wouldn't need us."
Winchester said if they had only one accident at the intersection in 10 years, he didn't see how it was a safety problem. The town, he said, was acting on something that the town doesn't have a problem with. If they change the intersection, they are taking a chance of making it worse.
The council said the public is welcome to provide comments about the intersection.
In other business:
• Town Marshal Dave Hobbs said the police have started tagging abandoned and junk vehicles in the town.
"A lot of these vehicles are the same vehicles we attempted to do something about last year," he said.
• Winchester reported the Main Street sewer separation project will begin when the contractors have their insurance complete.
He also reported the annual spring clean up may be a fall clean up this year, depending on whether or not the town holds Milfordfest.
The council also signed the contract documents and notice to proceed for the painting company to begin repainting the water tower.
The council approved two utility department employees to attend a conference in Columbus April 23-25.
A report on upcoming projects was also given by Winchester.
• Bids for Milford's used backhoe were opened. Mentone utilities had the highest bid for $8,001 and it was accepted.
• The council tabled a revised draft of the town's ordinance for town employee overtime compensation.
• Clerk Treasurer Charlotte Siegfried reported the town will receive $5,562.58 in reimbursement funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
She also reported someone is still needed to organize MilfordFest.
• Royal Carpet Cleaning's bid for $385 was accepted to clean the town hall's carpet.
Members of the Milford Town Council are John Lehman, Douglas Ruch and Robert Phillips. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the second Monday of every month.
