04/22/1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 22, 1996 the middle school, you will either live within that mile and use the pathway or you will be bused. If there is a safety issue within the one mile area, the children will be bused. Mr. McClellan explained that currently there are areas where children live within one mile of the school and are bused. Dave Radeck, 7184 Cinnamon Teal Court - Mr. Radeck said if we do not say something we all are going to have to live with what is decided on May 13th. He said a lot of the questions that were asked and a lot of things that were discussed tonight seem to indicate that there is a lot of animosity in this community right now. Mr. Radeck said maybe this item should be tabled and allow time to get some definite facts and figures and see we can get a signal light on the Lake Drive/Elm Street intersection. Mary Nissen, 6541 Hokah Drive - Ms. Nissen said she did not like seeing all of the disparity between everybody tonight. Her kids do walk to the Rice Lake Elementary School on a pathway. People were not real happy about this when it happened. But it happened even though some parents felt the pathway was to close to Birch Street. Ms. Nissen said that none of the community can afford to have this matter delayed unless you want to see your kids in classes of 30 to 40 kids. She said she did not like that idea. Ms. Nissen asked that staff repeat what MnDOT has said about the signal light at Lake Drive and Elm Street. She said it appeared that there is no promise of such a light. Mr. Ahrens said that he will ask Dave Mitchell to explain MnDOT's review process and what they will need. He said that it would be a poor decision for the City Council to table this matter and ask MnDOT for a decision. They will require a real detailed study and that will take at least a month. Mr. Mitchell said that OSM goes through a process of signal justification report. That has to include some of the detailed design aspects of the roadway. To table this, does not provide any additional guarantees that the City will get a signal light. The entire process must be completed by the schedule that is laid out by MnDOT. The process is to start developing detailed plans and submit a signal justification report. Ms. Nissen said that when Rice Elementary School opened, the kids who lived on the south side of Birch Street were expected to cross Birch Street in one given area where there was a cross -walk. It was decided that the crossing was not safe and an underpass was constructed. Ms. Nissen said that she was not suggesting that an underpass or overpass be constructed for the middle school. She said the residents here this evening can rest assured that the School District will do everything that they can to make sure it is safe for the kids to cross the street to the middle school whether it be Elm Street or Lake Drive (Highway 49). Ms. Nissen also said that kids who will be attending the middle school do not always take the bus. If they have another option such as walking, roller blading, or riding their bike they will not ride the bus. She said that if parents are not satisfied with the walking route, they drive their kids to school. Ms. Nissen said it is surprising how many parents are still driving their children to Rice Lake Elementary. PAGE 38