By John Koski
SLN Staff
After appearing and speaking during the Public Comment portion of Elkhorn Common Council meetings for the past several months, Ed Robers got his wish – and 18 residents of N. Lincoln Ave. showed up in strong support at the Elkhorn Common Council meeting Monday.
Robers has complained, vigorously at times, about over-the-speed-limit traffic on N. Lincoln St., which is posted at 25 mph, as well as vehicles, such as trucks and charter buses, that ignore posted weight restriction signs.
At the council’s Dec. 17 meeting, Robers asked that the issue be placed on the council agenda, and Monday night, it was – in two separate places. It appeared under Public Safety Committee reports and again under Police Department Staff Reports.
The meeting began with a PowerPoint presentation by Capt. John Anzalone of the Elkhorn Police Dept. pertaining to traffic patterns on N. Lincoln St.
Anzalone provided an overview of a Directed Enforcement Activity Report concerning traffic on Lincoln St. from Dec. 9 to Dec. 12, as well as earlier activity reports.
After Anzalone’s presentation, the council listened to comments and concerns from the audience.
Another possibility, as far as I’m concerned, would be an actual speed bump in the middle of every block from the 100 to the 600 blocks,” Robers said. “That would definitely slow people down. We have garbage trucks that are going back and forth all the time on days they aren’t picking up garbage on Lincoln St. If you don’t live (on Lincoln St.), you can’t understand it. That’s part of the problem.”
All these people came tonight because they can’t get out of their driveways,“ said Vicki Sterns, also a Lincoln Street resident. “At First Avenue, there’s no safe way route for those kids coming from the middle school to cross without stop signs.
“At Third Avenue,” Sterns said, “one of the ladies I talked to almost got hit going home on Saturday. The accidents that almost happened and the accident that happened in front of of my house on Dec. 19, my niece still might still lose her foot – we’ve got to slow the traffic down and we have to reroute. We are not a state highway, we are a city street.”
“With traffic patterns increasing, we’re asking for a reroute,” said Tim Flynn, who lives on Court St. “We really want something done to move the traffic to where it should be on Wisconsin St., and not on Lincoln St.”
“With the way traffic flies down (Lincoln) St., and I’m just about across the street from the park,” said Lina McKinnow, “the only time that park is used is in the summer when they have softball games, or maybe once in awhile there’s a family that goes across the street. “People are afraid to cross (Lincoln) St.,” she continued. “Their kids are scared to death to cross that street. There is wonderful equipment (in the park) for kids to play on, but on one does. The park is hardly ever used. What a waste of tax dollars if our kids can’t use the park we created for our children. The way traffic flies up and down that street, I won’t let my grandchildren cross it.”
“We’d like to know what happens next,” Lincoln Street resident Angela Hastings said. “What is the procedure? How does the citizenry get involved and what is the process?”
“If the Public Safety Committee votes to go ahead (which it did) and look at options than that’s certainly what we are going to do, Councilman Scott McClory said. “I’m fully of your concerns and I understand them, but I can’t tell you tonight that come Jan. 1, 2014, that these five things are going into effect. We’re just not there yet.
“As the public safety chairman,” McClory said, “I’m saying that these things that are on the table that are not enforcement related, should remain on the table and we should consider each and everyone of them as the best choice for the people who live on N. Lincoln St.”
“If you want to stay engaged,” said Sam Tapson, city administrator, “come to the committee meetings. They are all public meetings, and unless it has been announced as a public meeting, the public is not only invited, it’s basic responsibility. Your voice can be heard at those meetings by you attendance.”
