Residents want intersection to be safer
Staff writer
Residents who pass through the intersection of 220th and Falcon Roads implored county commissioners Monday to make it safer.
Mieka and Casey Bartel, and a number of residents living nearby, asked for stop signs to be installed on 220th as well as Falcon.
Jesse Smith with the county’s road and bridges department wondered whether a four-way stop sign was needed for an intersection that does not get a lot of traffic.
Even if there were a four-way sign, would motorists actually obey the signs, he asked.
“You show me any other road where dirt hits pavement that has a four-way stop sign,” he said. “You don’t see that.”
Four ways usually are installed for intersections where 700 or more cars pass through every hour.
“It does not warrant a four-way stop sign,” he said. “It’s a dirt road.”
When yield signs were mentioned as an alternative, Smith said the county might as well put up a stop sign.
Meika Bartel told commissioners what concerns her is with the current two-way it that they make her pull onto the roadway to see whether traffic is coming.
The primary problem is hills to the north prevent motorists from seeing the intersection from the west.
Motorists can see clearly when looking east but have to be at the top of the hill before knowing there is an intersection. People using the road know about this situation, he said.
“These stop signs have been there for at least 30 years, and people are used to them,” Smith said.
To make the intersection safer, Smith proposed installing warning signs 400 to 500 feet before the intersection.
The stop sign for northbound traffic cannot be removed, chairman Jonah Gehring said.
“Changing it would kill someone,” he said. “I know the intersection. “The stop sign on this side is absolutely critical and cannot be moved.”
Smith agreed, saying, “Any kind of change like that will cause problems.”
Commissioner Kent Becker wanted to look into what would be safest for the intersection, and proposed a sign warning of an intersection.
Commissioner Clarke Dirks proposed making the intersection a three-way stop sign trying it for six months to gauge its effectiveness.
While the commissioners appeared to favor the four-way stop sign proposal they took no action.
In other action after a 10-minute executive session, commissioners removed the interim title from Emergency Medical director Mickey Price, effective Dec. 8.
After 90 days Price’s performance will be reviewed.While Gehring said Price’s salary would increase but he did not know how much.
County administrator Tina Spencer said she would have a pay scale available at next Monday’s meeting.