Neighbors want safer residential streets
Residents share their concerns over traffic safety at a special neighborhood meeting that attracted 60 people, many of which voiced their feelings. Staff photo by Rick Bussler
A recent fatal crash that claimed the life of a teenager has propelled an Owatonna neighborhood into doing something to address traffic safety in their neighborhood.
On Sept. 18, about 60 residents in the neighborhood surrounding Manthey Park brought their concerns to police and city leaders. Police Chief Jeff Mundale and city council members Brent Svenby and Doug Voss listened to neighbor after neighbor complaining about near misses and other safety concerns primarily along 26th Street NE and 3rd Avenue NE, along with other side streets.
One of the biggest gripes for the neighborhood is a proposed street that will connect 24th Street NE to Cedar Avenue and 3rd Avenue NE. Currently, the street trails off into a parking lot upon entering Manthey Park. However, the city plans to put a thru street on the north end of the park.
“If they put this road in, they are crazy,” said John Burkhalter, who lives at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Wicklow. “It’s like putting 5-gallons of gas on a burning pile.”
Burkhalter said he is often in his front of his house doing yard work. He claimed about one-third of the drivers do not stop for a stop sign at the corner where he lives. He said he almost got hit earlier in the day.
Kevin Dillemuth lives in the 2400 block of Third Avenue where a motor vehicle smashed head-on into a tree killing the 19-year-old driver on Aug. 21. Dillemuth said speed is a concern in his neighborhood. He noted how several mailboxes have been hit along his street in recent years.
One neighbor said, “Mailboxes are getting hit. We don’t let out kids play in the yard. Cars are flying around the corner.”
Skye Devoe, who lives in the area, said a lot of the problems take place after school lets out. “There is no safe place to walk,” she said.
Another neighbor added, “It’s not a good place for children.”
Many neighbors in attendance suggested to police and city leaders that speeds should be reduced in the neighborhoods. Some cities offer speed limits of 20 or 25 mph in residential areas. Owatonna’s speed limit in neighborhoods is 30 mph. However, Chief Mundale cautioned neighbors that making such a change would require the council to take action citywide, not just targeting certain neighborhoods.
Besides reducing speed limits, a variety of other ideas were suggested by neighbors. Among them were rumble strips to slow down traffic and three-way stop signs in certain areas.
OPD, Mundale said, has utilized the speed trailer which flashes a vehicle’s speed and leaving empty patrol cars at different times as a deterrent.
Mundale assured the group his officers are regularly focusing on traffic safety as part of their duties. “Traffic safety is quite important to us,” he said, noting the four main areas of enforcement are speeding, seatbelt usage, distracted driving and impaired driving. “I take a lot of passion with it,” he added.
Officers engaged in 497 traffic stops or average of 16 per day during August, according to Mundale. He also pointed out how OPD handles 43,000 calls per year with the busiest period between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The chief said his department frequently patrols Third Avenue, along with many other neighborhoods, as call volume allows. Mundale admitted his officers often struggle with giving out citations, but they give out “a lot of warnings” to educate motorists.
Council member Voss said he plans to set up a meeting with the city engineer to address all the traffic safety concerns outlined by neighbors. He urged the group to select a couple liaisons for future meetings.