Change of location

The potential site for flashing beacons at a pedestrian crossing on Highway 18 is farther east than previously recommended.

The Hartley Recreational Trail Committee wants the equipment installed near the intersection of Highway 18 and North 3rd Avenue East, at a crossing from Dollar General to Fanning Field. The safety of pedestrians walking on or along the highway is a concern.

“There’s plenty of people walking on Highway 18. It would be better if this went there,” Committee Member Dan McCarty said during the city council meeting on June 12.

The committee also asked for an easement for a sidewalk on the north side of Highway 18, between Dollar General and Fiesta Foods.

The committee had previously sought an agreement to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at the existing pedestrian crossing south of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. Committee members are no longer interested in doing so.

“There are a lot of reasons not to use that location,” said Committee Member Justin McCarty.

The committee also requested consideration for two easements in the South Industrial Park. One would run north and south on the west side of the wastewater treatment plant, and the other would run east and west on the south side of 4th Street Southeast. The easements would be for a segment of the proposed recreational trail around the city.

Superintendent of Public Works Curtis Conaway expressed reservations about one of those easements, as a sewer main connecting to the treatment plant is in that area.

“I would prefer it not to be over the main,” he said.

Council members were generally supportive of the committee’s requests. They did express concerns about the sidewalk along the highway and felt property owners in that area should be informed.

“If I were living along there, I would like to have a discussion about it,” said Council Member Nick Galm.

The council did not take action at the regular meeting, but did discuss the requests again at a special meeting two days later.

“The light on the highway, there’s no reason not to support that,” said Council Member Ron Hengeveld.

“Correct,” Galm responded.

The council again expressed the need to contact property owners, Fiesta Foods and Dollar General about the proposed sidewalk, as well as the Iowa Department of Transportation to confirm it can be constructed in the easement adjacent to the highway.

Council members had no issue with the trail committee’s request for the easement west of the wastewater treatment plant, but agreed that the east-west portion of the proposed trail be on the street and not over the sewer main.

Final action on the committee’s requests is expected to be taken at the July meeting.