HOT PURSUIT

It’s easy in life to take the path to the least resistance. Fortunately, the Steele County commissioners overlooked the easy way out when it came to a controversial roadway near Blooming Prairie High School.

The County Board was tasked with deciding what to do with County Road 46 on the west edge of Blooming Prairie. The area is a hot bed for youth sports. The narrow road that was designed perhaps 100 years ago simply became inadequate to handle the influx of parked vehicles from spectators wanting to watch the games on nearby fields.

Area resident Tom Peterson recognized a safety concern with the roadway and began his fight to make it safer nine months ago. It has been portrayed by some that Peterson was the only one seeking the change. Let me assure you he was not. For one, the city’s police chief did the right thing in speaking out against the roadway as it has been. Peterson just happened to be the most vocal one to speak out against it. Many followed his lead but on the down low, which, sadly, in today’s climate isn’t unusual.

Peterson needs to be commended for his persistence and tireless efforts in bringing this issue to a head. In the end, he gains nothing other than knowing he had the best interests of public safety in mind and perhaps prevented a tragedy from taking place.

Making change is hard with anything in life, especially when it comes to public issues. Add to it a public safety issue where motorists are going to be inconvenienced, and sports are involved and well you see where it’s headed.

In the case of County Road 46, it only makes sense to do what the County Board has decided to do. Parking will be banned on both sides of the roadway that offers little to no shoulder space to begin with. The County Board went the extra step to make a change that will likely be viewed as unpopular by some, including the two commissioners who voted against it.

I have never been known to shy away from potential safety problems. Perhaps seeing years of carnage and devastation as a police officer have jaded my views. But I believe stopping something before it becomes an even bigger issue makes the most sense. Why wait until someone is critically injured, which nearly happened last summer, or killed?

It’s easy to think, “Oh, it’ll never happen here.” While we certainly hope that’s the case, hope doesn’t always carry us through to avoid tragedies. Why takes unnecessary risks when you can possibly prevent it?

I know how sensitive issues involving public safety can be. Many years ago, while serving as a police officer, I spoke out about a dangerous roadway that eventually led to significant changes being made to improve its safety. It happened to be where my son’s best friend was killed while on her way to school.

Are there going to be some inconveniences for folks who want to watch ball games in Blooming Prairie? Absolutely. But, as far as I’m concerned, the potential safety hazards far outweigh the minor disruption people will have in getting to the fields. The school already has parking available nearby that requires some walking.

We all need to rally around and go in hot pursuit of public safety, even if it involves sometimes going down the unpopular route.