The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by: Shirley Linder,, Quill Editor
A standing room only crowd voiced their opinions to the village board, which was led by Lawrence Neff in the absent of Mayor Eric Chockley, on all the stop signs going up in Stronghurst Monday evening.
The main question being asked was, "Why do we need so many stop signs?"
When the issue of stop signs was first discussed at a board meeting it was to address the need for more signs around the middle school to slow the traffic for the safety of the children.
Mayor Chockley had Tony Anderson and Chief Police Smith look over the town and bring back to the board their recommendations for where stop signs and yield signs should be placed.
Monday night, although he was on the committee with Gary, Tony Anderson said he felt he did not have much say in the matter. Now he feels like the entire community is being penalized for the speeders, by the over placement of stop signs all threw the village.
Lawrence Neff reminded everyone it was the board members who voted on the placement of the signs opting to NOT make the corner of Main and Broadway a four way stop.
Mike Corzatt, said he would like to see the main thoroughfares kept without signs, Broadway Street, Main Street, and North Street. He commented on how hard it is on the semis and big trucks to have to stop at every crossing.
Amanda Kane said the community is dependent on the farmers and she felt the village should do everything they could to keep their business in town.
Not all comments regarding the signs however, were negative, State Trooper and resident Brendan Schaley said he was delighted with the new one on North Street as you come in town from the west because no one drove the 20 m.p.h. coming into town by his house.
David Knutstrom said he was against them at first, but can now see the positive effect. He isn't convinced there needs to be so many.
Board members said there was no input from the public when they discussed the ordinance for two months before passing it, and now felt they just needed to see how the traffic flows with the signs up and go from there.
Following the input of all that wished to speak, Mike Bohnenkamp suggested that the citizens in protest, form a committee, make a list of suggestions regarding where they feel stop signs should and should not be, and come back to the next board meeting.
Other items covered by the board will appear in next week's paper.