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Residents want speed limits reduced

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
By SHANNEN HAYES, Staff Writer

CLOVERDALE -- A rather large crowed braved the cold temperatures Tuesday night to attend the town council meeting at the Cloverdale Town Hall.

Their concern was with the current posted speed limits in certain areas of town. They feel some need to be reduced.

John Hess resides on Hurst Avenue and said drivers do not obey the 30 m.p.h. speed limit in his area. There are several children and joggers in the area and no sidewalks are available.

Other residents complained of motorists speeding and not obeying stop signs. Most of them wanted this matter to be looked into and possibly the speed reduced to 20 m.p.h.

Alan Yackey, town attorney, informed the group a traffic study is required in order to have the speed limits changed.

"A traffic engineer needs to give the OK," he said.

Terry Puffer, council member, agreed to research the situation and find a solution. It may come down to extra patrols by law enforcement to help control speeding in areas of concern.

Council members also heard from Don Guthrie, utility manager, regarding a new camera system, which will help inspect the sewer system.

The $8,480 camera system includes a two-inch color screen and can take still photos as well as record. A one-year warranty and 15 percent discount until the end of January was incorporated into the price.

Following much discussion, council approved the purchase.

Council members have agreed to look at a proposal by Brian Pohlar of Greencastle to become the town's engineer "as required."

Cloverdale is not big enough to have an engineer on retainer, explained Don Sublett, council president.

"This is a very good opportunity," Puffer said.

Yackey recommended utilizing Pohlar for the engineering portion of subdivision control ordinances.

In other business, the utility clerk submitted a letter to the council notifying them of her retirement after 33 years of service. Her last day will be March 27 followed by three weeks of vacation.

The town council has received 17 resumes for the open utility manager position. An executive session will be held to narrow down the applicant to approximately three individuals. Council members will then begin the interview process.

Cloverdale will no longer have a liaison for the police department. Council approved Don Pearson, town marshal, will assume all responsibility for the department.

The next town council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the town hall.

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  • "Don Pearson will assume all responsibility for the department." The same person who gave the two patrol officers the green light to drive the police cars to their second job. Why should the tax payers pay for their transportation to and from work to another job. Board members, Padget, Vickory, and Sublett stated in a prior meeting they were going to let the officers have the cars back, only to drive from home to work. Did they really think it would be that simple???????

    -- Posted by captain crunch on Wed, Jan 14, 2009, at 8:09 PM

  • "A traffic engineer needs to give the OK."

    Why don't the town attorney just go ahead and state "An Avon traffic engineer"? I know when Vicroy was on the council the first time they set limits as common sense dictated. Who knows what happen to him. It can still be done without a study as my poppa would say, quit beating the horse and just get it done.

    I've been told but don't know for sure, by law, Don Pearson is responsible for the department. Common sense tells me when riding by the hall with 4 cars parked there isn't any police activity going on. By golly they should be able to drive the cars just in case of emergencies. We think it's about time Pearson runs the department the way his training and experience determines. Just how much money has been wasted with the town board being police wannabes? It really is that simple like ducks on a pond.

    We're on pins and needles waiting to see how the board takes care of the problem they have created. It's good to see at least 3 of them have decided to do whats right for the town.

    -- Posted by gingb2 on Thu, Jan 15, 2009, at 9:08 PM

  • Cloverdale, have you noticed that your town attorney has such vast knowledge on everything, but when it comes time to do something he recommends a professional that specializes in a subject. You need a traffic study but it doesn't require an engineer, all you need is to identify the street, location, determination of reasons why the speed limit is to be reduced or increased, and if you want to be professional about it, identify type of street such as low impact, arterial........ as long as it is streets that belong to the town and doesn't intersect with other governing streets (in that case you need to concur with that entity) it can be done by a department head investigating a complaint and determining it is legitimate,document it and following the normal procedures to enact the change. Clue, it doesn't even take an attorney to draft it.

    -- Posted by sadNmad on Fri, Jan 16, 2009, at 10:52 AM
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