Posted: 1/18/05
Student safety concerns city
by Jane Palen
Managing editor
The safety of students at the Esch Drive/Highway 44 crosswalk was one of the topics discussed at the Caledonia City Council meeting. on Monday evening, January 10.
The meeting was the first one presided over by the new mayor, Mike Morey. Councilman Gary Klug and Robert Standish were the new council members who joined Randi Vick and Paul Fisch for the first meeting of the year.
On hand to discuss the safety issue were crossing guards Naomi Fruechte, Mike Meyer and Mark Schiltz.
Fruechte told the council that the main problems she has observed are excessive speed and illegal passing on the right. The right lanes are for right turns only, but cars frequently pass other vehicles that are stopped for a left turn.
Fruechte suggested that the city take a critical look at all the signs, and consider fewer but more effective signs. She said she thinks that drivers disregard signs if there are too many. She also recommended yellow flashing lights to warn motorists of the school crossing, Another suggestion was a ìright land must turnî sign.
Schiltz added that the violaters are most likely from Iowa and Wisconsin.
City clerk/administrator Robert Nelson said that the city had contacted the state in the past and asked for a caution light that could be operated manually. It would flash in the period before school and after school, and anyone wanting to cross could operate the light at other times. He said that the Minnesota Department of Transportation objected to the manual operation aspect, and the city didnít pursue the matter any further.
Paul Fisch described a meeting with MnDOT officials on the safety issue as frustrating. He said that the DOT does not seem willing to make significant changes, such as lowering the speed limit, unless there is more traffic and more accidents. He recommended that the crossing guards document all the near misses and build a case for improvements to the intersection.
Councilman Standish commented, ìI am scared to death someone will get hurt.î
Police force staffing
may change
In another matter, the council discussed staffing in the police department with new police chief, Randy Shefelbine.
When fully staffed, the department has three full-time officers and a chief. Currently, there is one full-time officer and a chief and one officer, James Stemper, on administrative leave. Mayor Morey asked if it would be more cost-effective to have a full-time staff of five and thus reduce expenses for overtime, call-time, and part-time staff. Also, officers who are called in and who have a part-time license must have a supervisor available to call in if necessary.
The council is currently reviewing 18 applications for the position of police officer. At this time, there are plans to hire just one officer but that may change depending upon the outcome of the court case against Officer Stemper in Buffalo County.
Recycling rates will increase
The council was visited by Rick Frank, environmental services director for Houston County, who discussed the need for an increase in the monthly household fee for recycling from $2 to $2.50. The extra 50 cents, which will be collected from all households in the county, will generate an additional $50,000 in income to assist the county in its efforts.
Frank explained to the council that costs continue to rise with more regulations. For instance, circuit boards, which are found in computers, televisions, cell phones, DVD players, and other electronic equipment cannot enter the waste stream. The county must pay to have those items disposed of properly. The cost to the county is expected to be between $35,000 and $40,000 per year.
Waste haulers have also increased their rates and some have added fuel surcharges, said Frank.
On a related matter, Frank said that the annual fluorescent bulb collection is tentatively set for April 9.
Meeting agendas discussed
In another matter, Mayor Morey suggested that the city clerk/administrator limit agenda items to those items brought to the city clerk before noon on the preceding Friday. If people attend the meeting with an issue to discuss, they can speak but the council would delay a decision until the next meeting. Morey said he felt that the council would be more prepared if the items to be discussed are on the agenda earlier.
The council discussed the idea, but made no decisions.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com