Iola City Council members will discuss Monday a proposal to make a pair of streets near Iola Middle School one-way thoroughfares. COUNCIL members also will review the city’s utility rates and continue discussions about Iola’s 2016 spending plan, which is due in August; look at a request from the Friends of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center to rezone property east of the Bowlus so it can be developed; and appoint members to work with Van Scoyoc Associates, the city’s lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.
Adding fifth-grade classes to the middle school as part of USD 257’s shift to grade-level attendance centers will add approximately 100 students and eight to 10 instructors to the middle school this fall.
That, in turn, almost certainly will increase traffic congestion around the school.
In a prepared report for the Council, City Administrator Carl Slaugh describes the scene around IMS as “a traffic nightmare.”
He has an accompanying traffic study, which looked at congestion surrounding the school at various parts of the day, as proof.
The Council will consider two options.
The first would change East Street to a one-way westbound lane from First Street to Cottonwood, four blocks in all, while making Jackson one-way eastbound along the same stretch.
The second option would only change East and Jackson from two-way traffic to one-way routes from Elm Street to Colborn, a two-block stretch.
The advantage to having the longer portion converted to one-way streets is because it extends to larger “collector streets,” such as First and Cottonwood.
Both options have drawbacks, Slaugh acknowledged, particularly for residents living in the area.
The city is eager to convert the streets in July, well before school resumes.
The city will have to acquire signs, approximate cost of $750, while potentially changing some sidewalk approaches for increased accessibility.
The 6 p.m. meeting will be at the New Community Building in Riverside Park.
The public is invited.
City Council eyes changing streets to one-way routes
