Wednesday, May 14

\

City officials listen to citizens' requests

[MAY 14, 2003]  Lincoln City Council members spent Tuesday evening listening and problem-solving issues surrounding a hazardous traffic school intersection, downtown parking, a potential teen hangout and nuisance trees.

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. 

 

[to top of second column in this article]

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]


Articles from the past week

Tuesday:

Monday:

Saturday:

Friday:

Thursday:

Wednesday:

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law & Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health & Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor