PdC council approves stop sign additions near elementary, high schools
By Correne Martin
Drivers: If you haven’t already noticed, the city of Prairie du Chien has permanently added some new stop signs in the areas of B.A. Kennedy Elementary School and Prairie du Chien High School.
A total of four stop signs have been either placed or requested at three intersections to increase pedestrian safety at these schools: one at Michigan and Webster Streets, one at Michigan and Cass Streets (not yet placed) and two at Wells and Dousman Streets—one on the east side and a second on the west side.
A resolution approving the addition of the signs to the city’s official traffic map passed Tuesday night at the Prairie du Chien Common Council meeting. The resolution was previously approved by the police and street departments and public works committee. The one at Michigan and Cass needs to be placed, while the others are already in place. All will be added to the traffic map.
Police Chief Kyle Teynor said the stop sign at Cass and Michigan is necessary due to the close proximity to B.A. Kennedy School and the loss of a crossing guard in that location. "We have sought applications for Crossing Guards the last three years and have received no applications. We will also be adding additional pedestrian crossing signs at that intersection," he said. "We try to staff it with officers in the afternoon but there are some days that this is not possible."
The council also upheld an ordinance recreation designating no parking, except for buses only, on the east side of State Street that abuts the Prairie du Chien Area School District property, and on Crawford Street, from Dousman to State, since it is now a designated fire lane.
Surplus funds
Additionally, the council took action on the city’s 2018 budget surplus funds. According to City Administrator Chad Abram, the city is required to allocate 40 percent of the surplus ($65,735) to its compensated absences, such as accumulated employee leave. Then, the councilmen voted to use excess funds to knock off some needs for multiple city departments, including the:
•Replacement of 10 deteriorating tires on the fire department’s ladder truck ($5,976).
•Purchase of new pedestrian crossing signs for the police department ($4,000).
•Replacement of the street department’s line striper and garage doors ($17,570/$10,000).
•Acquisition of a few tables and chairs for the library ($2,000).
Boat launch passes
In public works minutes approved at the meeting, plans moved forward to switch the paper hang boat launch pass for 2020 to a sticker about 2x2 in size that should be placed in a universal location on the top left inside corner of the driver’s side of the vehicle.
