02-10-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 6 • February 10, 1997 Mounds View City Council Vivian Henningfield, 2559 Mound View Drive, stated she has difficulty crossing Highway 10 and often ends up crossing on a red light in order to get across the intersection. Something needs to be done. Mayor McCarty stated he feels the timing of the lights needs to be looked at again. Another resident commented, however, that the lights are tied in with others on Highway 10 and therefore it is difficult to have the timing adjusted. Dean (inaudible), 5415 Erickson Road, stated everything was covered in previous Council meetings. People had opportunities to listen, voice their opinions, etc. He feels the issue of safety alone should justify the project costs. He thinks of the children's safety, and is willing to pay higher taxes to protect them. Tom Ernstor, 2504 County Road H2, asked if anyone has looked at the traffic as it could end up in three years with the 610 cut off. As he understands, traffic on highway 10 will cut down somewhat. Mayor McCarty stated the city does not have a professional opinion on this and it will likely require an independent traffic study. Council member Quick stated information was provided some time ago and it is projected that 610 will lower the traffic on Highway 10, but almost immediately increase again in the way of local traffic. Carol Golden, 2749 Lake Court Drive, stated she was at a mceting last year on this issue and never heard . anything other than the safety issue of children before and after school. She feels the bridge will only add to the number of distractions to drivers on Highway 10 and she wonders how many people it will really benefit. Mayor McCarty stated he does not believe a demographic study attached to the bridge. Jim Schmidt, 5446 Erickson Road, stated he is in favor of the bridge. He attended many of the meetings last year on the issue. He feels the pedestrian bridge would directly benefit himself and many other children in his area. His children are involved in little league baseball as well as basketball in the Winter and they are constantly needing to cross Highway 10. He would like to be able to allow his children someday to go to practice or to the library without having to be supervised. Under no circumstance would he allow them to cross Highway 10 as it steads now. He feels it is difficult for him and others in his area to access that part of the city and it would provide a great link and connect the community. He wondered if the traffic signal costs would be covered by the State. Mayor McCarty stated this is a local project and therefore the state would not cover the cost. A brief discussion followed in regard to other funding options. Pam Starr, 7778 Woodlawn Drive, stated the local funds that would need to be spent are well worth a child's safety. She thinks many residents who have children would be overjoyed to have the pedestrian bridge and believes many of those who attend the meetings to voice objection are those who do not have children and who would likely not use the bridge. She feels many parents would gladly pay a little more in taxes to support the bridge. She feels if the city does not proceed they will just be wasting a valuable resource and if the city wants to look for alternative financing, they should do so but they should not holdup the construction of the bridge. • Ann Weber, 2512 County Road H2, asked if sidewalks will be necessary in the future along Highway 10 to funnel people to the bridge, and if so, who will pay for that? She doesn't feel it is realistic that people will