04-24-1995 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON APRIL 24, 1995 ( #2 - Old Beach Road - Continued) • Tom Deckel of 90 Gideons Point Road in Tonka Bay responded to the school bus issue. He said this is a crucial area and all are concerned but rejects that the residents of Old Beach Road have a far more serious issue than those residents of CoRds 15 and 19, where there is greater traffic and speed. He rejects the idea that these children are subject to greater danger. He noted that the houses are built way back on the lots. He felt the issue would be one of isolation rather than greater risk. Callahan responded that although he may reject the idea, there is a difference in the design and condition of Old Beach Road from CoRds 15 and 19. Tom said that he felt Callahan and Jabbour showed no neutrality in this issue. Judd Mowry of 445 Lakeview Avenue in Tonka Bay noted the good layout that Moorse did. He noted that if fire or emergency vehicle access were needed during winter months and the entrance was blocked, snow would be pushed up against the alternate access and would be unaccessible. He disagreed with the assessment that Old Beach Road was unique in its street design. He said Birch Bluff was also narrow, and the manuevering of emergency vehicles was rather dubious. He challenged the inability to keep speeding in check. Speeds on CoRd 19 could also be checked. In relation to the posted speed of 40 mph to a 30 mph zone, the turn is difficult. He noted the example of Hwy 7, where speeds are 45 -50 mph to CoRd 19, where 30 mph is posted. Mowry also said he lives on a narrow road, which is posted at 20 mph. He said traffic appears to be going faster than • it actually is and asked the chief to put equipment out to monitor what the speeds are in reality. • Mowry said that there were 12 Orono residents on Old Beach Road, who were unanimous in the closing of the road. He noted the number of petitions from Orono residents who were in favor of keeping the road open plus the many in attendance at this meeting. If the issue were numbers, the opening of the road was supported. If the issue is safety, with turning and volume, this would result in pushing traffic to a more dangerous intersection, where 14 personal injury accidents have recently occurred, and where it is signalized. He said the City should look at signalizing other areas and wished to know where the cost figure of $400,000 comes from. Kirk Sherman responded to the request for additional information. He provided the graphic for the counter taken October 6 and 7. The figures were taken from the actual printout which recorded each 15 minute segment. Taking the hour amounf and statement from the County, it presented a two -hump graphic. The count was begun at 3 p.m. on October 6. Sherman noted an example of a p.m. time slot of a smaller number of cars on CoRd 15 from Old Beach Road because of the difficulty in making the turn. There was not a significant drop in cars between 5 -6 am. There were 150 cars through the day per hour and then a drop at nite. Callahan said in his experience all traffic counts have had inconsistencies. The figures can be used to aid each side in the issue. 7