The Crete News Online

Council split on one-way pool street

Speed limits and one-way streets will be up for Crete City Council action in the coming weeks as two issues, one on East 13th and the other at the swimming pool have heard debate.

Mayor Roger Foster chose not the break a 3-3 tie last Tuesday on changing the direction of the one-way street in front of the swimming pool, currently under renovations.

The Public Safety Committee recommended the council change the direction of the one-way from the current entrance off 4th and Hawthorne, to 5th and Grove, allowing traffic to pass the pool south on Grove and proceed west on 4th to Hawthorne. They said the 5th and Grove access would allow better visibility for pool patrons.

Several community members and adjacent property owners spoke against the change, citing safety reasons involving children exiting vehicles at the pool and having to cross the street.

Council member Jack Oelschlager said he remembers the original change to the current set-up was about pedestrian safety.

“Consider every safety measure that you can in a situation like this,” resident and former council member Willis Luedke said.

Council member Travis Sears said kids can exit on both sides of many vehicles while Foster suggested the majority of kids riding bikes to the pool may come down Grove from 5th, against the current traffic pattern. Tom Ourada, Director of Public Works said the suggestion was made to post a stop sign at the turn.

Foster recommended the committee revisit the issue, taking a closer look at bike paths and sidewalk options.

The public works committee met last Wednesday on a number of street issues resulting from East 13th and Iris work.

Property owners Josh and Abbie Page were present to ask for a speed limit change on East 13th. The limit currently changes to 35 mph at the east city limits, then decreases to 30 at the Pages’ property on the corner of 13th and Iris. They say it’s still too fast for a busy intersection so close to the Crete Schools and the foot traffic produced.

A recommendation was made to the council to drop the speed limit to 25 mph from Jasmine to Hawthorne and work on improved increments and a radar sign.

------

Last Tuesday the council approved authority for the mayor to sign on behalf of the city on USDA Rural Development contracts for a grant and financing on a new wastewater treatment plant.

A USDA representative shared details of the proposal involving a grant of about $1.6 million and low-interest financing on the remaining $6,776,000. The city’s annual payment would be about $500,000.

For more on this story, see the April 11 print or e-editions of The Crete News.