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School District 27 Superintendent
Robert Kidd and board president Bruce Carmitchel came before the
council in person to request an assessment of a hazardous traffic
pattern at the new Central School site.
Kidd submitted a written a request
previously to add stop signs on Union Street, which runs beside the
new Central School building. The signs were added. However, it has
been noted that drivers are still missing the stop signs and a
potential hazard still exists.
What has always been a problem area has
become worse due to the positioning of the new school building.
Union Street acts as the divider between old Lincoln, with angled
street layout, and new Lincoln, with due north-south, east-west
plotted streets. The unmatched, multicorner area creates a dangerous
traffic pattern. The northwest corner of the school was widened to
allow for school buses to negotiate a turn onto narrow Seventh
Street at the intersection of North Union and Pulaski streets.
Drivers often don't see the stop sign in the large open area that
seems like a midblock intersection.
The potential hazard is compounded by
another intersection just 75 feet away at Union, Eighth and Broadway
streets.
Congestion will increase when the new
Central School opens and the junior high moves temporarily into the
old building next door. The school officials are asking the city to
look at the site and try to find a new solution before something
happens there.
Though no
one could see any solutions at the moment, council members agreed to
the concern. They will go out, take a look and discuss it further.
Those
blooming trees have been the annoyance of some downtown shopkeepers.
Complaints were received from the business owners at Tartar
Brothers, Cookie's Bakery and MKS. Some said that the sticky blooms
track into the businesses and are difficult to clean up. Others said
the trees block their business signs.
The
Lincoln Beautification Committee has been waiting on a
comprehensive, unified plan that will encompass the entire downtown.
Bill Dickerson is working with a Department of Natural Resources
landscape architect who is creating the plan. A walk-through was
conducted, and pictures were taken downtown last fall. The plan is
expected to be presented this summer. Once it is approved, grant
monies will be sought to complete the project.
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Mayor
Beth Davis said the plan features raised flower beds and low
shrubbery that would solve all the current complaints.
Streets
Superintendent Donnie Osborne recommends that the city wait for that
plan to be completed rather than take temporary measures with the
downtown landscape.
Parking
downtown continues to be a sore spot for merchants who want parking
for their customers. Increasing upstairs living quarters in
renovated buildings increases the demand for parking spaces.
Police
Chief Rich Montcalm said that they tried to control the problem with
prolonged parking by increasing the fines, but that had no effect.
It is
now being suggested to go to parking permits. A six-month sticker
would cost $50. Cars would still need to park away from the downtown
streets for Friday morning sweeping and when snows reach over 2
inches.
A group
of Heartland College students came forward to request support to
create a new teen hangout. The group suggests that having a place to
go could reduce problem teen behaviors.
They
have been looking at a building on Woodlawn that they think with a
little paint and a few amenities could serve as a place for teens to
hang out. They could study, attend poetry readings, and if they open
up the larger back area, it could be used for dances.
They
suggested that possible continued support for the venture would come
through the sales of hot and cold drinks, pastries and sandwiches at
the "coffeehouse."
The
intent of the venture is to give teens a place to go that is their
own. Both Mayor Davis and Police Chief Montcalm thought that the
idea was wonderful. Davis suggested they seek support of local
businesses to get it started. Montcalm said he remembers a similar
place opened a few years back, but only a few kids would come to it.
He hoped maybe this would be successful, being an initiative made by
young people.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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