Iola crews will begin work soon to add a crosswalk to U.S. 54’s intersection with Oak Street.
The crosswalk was recommended by the Kansas Department of Transportation, stemming from KDOT’s traffic study over a two-day period last October.
The report also recommended the city add a crosswalk somewhere at the old Allen County Hospital curve at First Street.
Council members embraced the Oak Street crosswalk plan, voting Monday evening to spend about $7,300 for the necessary curb work and paint.
The Council has adopted a wait-and-see approach on whether another crosswalk be added at First Street, noting ongoing development at the old hospital site may deserve more study in terms of highway improvements.
Plans are for construction to begin this spring for a G&W Foods grocery. Other developers are pursuing apartment conmplexes or townhouses at the old ACH site.
The vote came after Chuck Richey, who used to live not far from the curve on Elm Street, said putting a crosswalk or bicycle lane along the curve “is a bad idea. Surely, if you travel that curve enough, you know that’s not a place for a crosswalk.”
Accordingly, adding a bicycle lane there “is a good way to get somebody killed,” Richey added, noting most motorists who travel along the curve often veer into more than one lane as they travel.
WITH CITY administrator Carl Slaugh set to retire in July, wheels have been put in motion to find a replacement.
Council members voted to hire the League of Kansas Muncipalities, at a cost of $4,589, plus advertising, to help spearhead the candidate search.
The LKM was by far the lowest of three received.
Two others, from private firms, would have cost the city between $22,000 and $25,000.
Slaugh noted the difference in price was because the other firms would do much more extensive background checks on prospectic candidates.
THE COUNCIL hired Caitlyn Callaway for the Iola Fire Department.
