A Warrenton resident is petitioning the city government to place street signs in his neighborhood to protect children from speeding drivers.
Resident Jeff Polys, who lives near the intersection …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
A Warrenton resident is petitioning the city government to place street signs in his neighborhood to protect children from speeding drivers.
Resident Jeff Polys, who lives near the intersection of Banner and McKinley, said children in his neighborhood are endangered by drivers coming off the main road. Polys’ neighborhood is directly east of Highway 47 and north of the railroad track.
“It’s a straightaway from Highway 47 all the way to Truesdale,” Polys explained. “The drivers, they just fly down this road. We have kids playing, we have animals out, and there’s a lot of concerns.”
Polys said he initially purchased his own sign asking drivers to slow down, and wanted to attach it to one of the city’s signposts. He was told the city government has to approve and place any street signs.
“So I said ... let’s see if we can have the city pay for it and put some signs up,” Polys commented. He requested at least one new “children playing” sign at the corner of Banner and McKinley. “All I’m trying to do with these signs is slow down cars, keep their eye out for children and pets, and respect the neighborhood.”
Mayor Eric Schleuter said some “children at play” signs have previously been posted in the area, but that he would direct the city’s public works department to assess locations for more signs.
“I appreciate that you are trying to interject yourself into the betterment of our town. ... I’m glad you’re taking notice of safety issues that are going on,” Schleuter told Polys.
Schleuter added that Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch, who lives in the same neighborhood as Polys, has also voiced previous concerns about traffic safety.
City Attorney Christopher Graville clarified that the city needs to place and purchase its own signs, rather than allowing citizens to supply them, so that the city can regulate what gets put up and ensure they meet durability standards.
Police Chief Larry Ellard commented that his department was made aware of the traffic complaints, and that officers conducted 30 days of heavy traffic enforcement in the neighborhood this fall to discourage speeding.
“As a result, they wrote six summons and issued three warnings,” Ellard said. “When you first have your officers in the area, they’ll catch people speeding. Day after day, when people drive through and see the officers there, now their behavior has changed.”
Polys also asked if the police department could work with him and his neighbors to establish a neighborhood watch program. Ellard said he would be happy to assist.
