HUMBOLDT A steep increase in traffic infractions has led to large signs alerting motorists of the upcoming stoplight in downtown Humboldt, said Shannon Moore, Chief of Police.
We had to do something, about the intersection of Ninth (old highway 169) and Bridge Street, Moore told city council members at their meeting Monday night.
In the first 40 days of the year officers have made 155 traffic stops and issued better than 30 citations, of which about half were for failure to stop for a red light, Moore said.
The high volume of traffic is credited to the unofficial detour of U.S. 169 from Humboldt to Chanute that takes motorists through downtown. The official KDOT detour, a horseshoe journey between Iola, Yates Center and Chanute, is better than 50 miles.
After meeting with Highway Patrol officers, Moore said large digital signs were installed about a block away from either side of the intersection by the Kansas Department of Transportation that broadcast, Stoplight ahead.
We thought about rumble strips, but winter weather has made that difficult and likely would not have had as great an effect, Moore said.
The signs are unsightly, complained Councilwoman Sunny Shreeve.
Moore assured council they soon will be replaced by a more compact digital sign on loan from Kustom Radar of Chanute. The unit will measure speed and instruct motorists to slow down! The Kustom unit will be rotated to either side of the intersection.
Moore said several motorists have said they did not see the stoplights, which are positioned on the four corners, rather than suspended above the intersection.
Heavy trucks also have difficulty trying to stop in time, Moore added. You dont know what theyre hauling.
The good news is that the U.S. 169 reconstruction is expected to be completed by the end of April and in-town traffic will be back to normal, said City Administrator Cole Herder.
IN OTHER business, council members:
— Approved closing Bridge Street north of the high school on April 17 to accommodate Career Day activities. Pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade students will view vehicles parked on the street, such as heavy trucks, farm equipment, a fire truck and even a helicopter. Fifth-through-seventh graders will traipse about downtown in The Amazing Race of Careers to view what occurs with businesses. Eighth- through 11th-graders will hear from representatives of area businesses and attend a college fair in the afternoon.
— Instructed Herder to forge ahead with a program through Minnesota Municipal Gas Agency, in conjunction with Royal Bank of Canada, that will permit Humboldt and other Kansas cities to buy at discounted prices part of the gas they resell. In a best-case scenario, Herder said the 900-plus residential users might save as much as $7 a month. More will be known about the deal in a month or two.
— Were told quotes had been reviewed and material ordered for construction of utility lines to Monarchs industrial tract northeast of town.
— Were reminded a pet clinic will be at Hunter Parks rock cabin from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday. Red Barn Veterinary Clinic of Iola will provide vaccinations, ACARF will do ID microchipping and the city will sell 2019 licenses.
