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WINONA?LAKE – Some residents objected Tuesday to a plan by town council to put a four-way stop in an alley to quell speeding traffic.
The alleyway is positioned in a block between Court and Canal streets, and some residents had been seeking to block access on the east-west alley between the two streets.
The council was told a few months ago of motorists cutting through the alleyway.
Residents expressed concern about the danger posed to children who play in the area.
The alleyway has blind spots where motorists may not see children playing in the streets, according to numerous people.
Instead of cutting off alley access, the council proposed installing a four-way stop in the middle of the alleyway.
Vince Swanson, a homeowner on the block, said the stop sign will bring traffic too close to his home.
He said the cars would come within 4 feet of his house.
Swanson said he wants to protect his grandchildren, but thinks the alleyway should just be cut off to traffic.
He said the solution is to install two pillars on the ends of the alleyway.?This will allow homeowners to access their garages and still have access for service vehicles.
Swanson previously sent a letter to the town council signed by all four homeowners on the block.
“There shouldn’t be any reason they can’t drive just a few houses down to 12th street and avoid this pedestrian path,” the letter said.
Swanson said he timed it and going around the alley takes only 5 seconds longer than going through the alley.
Swanson said he’s concerned that stop signs will encourage traffic to go through the alleyway.
He said the pillars would be cheaper than the stop signs.
“You’ve got the people who actually would be effected by it don’t want it,” Swanson said.
Council president Bruce Shaffner, thanked Swanson for expressing his concerns. Shaffner tabled the idea and said the council would seek more information.
In other business, no comments were made during a public hearing on the town’s proposed budget for 2018.
The 2018 budget is proposed at $5,462,202, up slightly from last year’s level of $5,354,021.
The council will vote to approve the budget at next month’s meeting.
In other business:
• The council approved purchasing a new utility vehicle for the street department. The vehicle is expected to cost about $13,000.
• Town Engineer Larry Long retired. The Council approved T?E Inc. to take over the town engineer contract.
