Chief urges proactiveness with BP parking issue

While Blooming Prairie’s top law enforcement official can’t recall any crashes on what is turning out to be a controversial roadway near the high school, Greg Skillestad is concerned about safety involving that stretch.

Skillestad, the city’s police chief, agrees that something needs to be done to address safety on County Road 46 west of the high school. “My concern is the safety of a kid darting out between a car,” he said. “It’s better to be proactive than reactive. We don’t want anyone hurt.”

Part of the problem with County 46, Skillestad said, is that it has a posted speed limit of 45 mph between County Road 15 and 3^rd Street NW. He noted there is a “suggested speed” of 25 mph in the area. However, he warned it’s not considered a posted speed and is unenforceable for police.

“At the 45-mph speed, they will not be able to slow down if a kid darts out,” Skillestad said. “There is no way you can stop, it’s impossible to stop, at 45 mph. You are going to hit a kid.”

Excessive speeding above 45 mph is not uncommon for motorists on County 46, according to Skillestad. “People think it’s 55 mph,” he said.

Skillestad said he travels on that roadway regularly, not only for work, and makes a deliberate effort to reduce his speed to 20 mph. “I do not want to be that person on the front page hitting a kid on County Road 46,” he said, adding he hopes other motorists will heed his advice and slow down.

While Steele County officials claim they have reached out to law enforcement for expertise on the issue, Skillestad said he has never been contacted.

Safety on County 46 was raised earlier this year by Tom Peterson, a long-time Blooming Prairie resident, who is pushing for “no parking” signs to be posted on both sides of the road. The roadway, which was designed decades ago, has little to no shoulder, forcing vehicles to stick out into the roadway. The area is often filled with parked vehicles when there are athletic activities going on at the nearby fields.

Peterson pleaded for improved safety on County Road 46 Friday morning at a Public Works Policy Committee meeting made up of two county commissioners, Greg Krueger and James Brady, and county administrator Renae Fry.

The long-time resident is frustrated with what he perceives as the county’s lack of action in doing something to correct the problem. Peterson accused the county of not having common sense or public safety in mind. “Common sense dictates that with so many cars parked bumper to bumper on one or both sides of the road, it is a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or worse,” he said. “Where is the common sense in championing sports above public safety?”

He also went on to say the public’s trust over the issue is absent with the county.

“Where is the public’s trust in Steele County when a concerned citizen, who only wants to bring his concerns to the county for serious public safety issues, is being stonewalled by a department head gatekeeper?” Peterson asked the committee. “It is very clear I am nothing but a bother.”

Peterson is also annoyed with the county when the same department head initially denied him the opportunity to meet with the Public Works Committee but allowed Blooming Prairie Superintendent Chris Staloch to present.

The county’s Fry said no decisions have been made and there is no timeline for a decision at this point. “The board is still reviewing all impacts and ramifications of Tom’s request,” she said, adding the committee encouraged Peterson to meet with administration at BP Schools to see if the district supports the posting of no parking signs.

Like Chief Skillestad, Peterson argues that it’s only a matter of time before a tragedy happens.

Skillestad reminds citizens that Blooming Prairie city officials can’t do anything as Steele County has jurisdiction over making changes to the roadway.

“We are not involved other than what they decide to do,” he said. “We will be here to support and enforce whatever comes.”

The chief added, “We need to prevent something from happening.”