Slow Down on CRV Roads!

At their regular September 1 meeting, the city of Rushford Village once again discussed the issue of drivers speeding on the CRV roads. Councilman Bob Hart asked if it would be prudent to post speed limit signs on the roads. Mike Ebner suggested moving the electronic sign around to the various roads so people will understand the city is checking on them.

Clerk Mary Miner reminded the council that Public Works Department Maintenance Supervisor Darrin Dessner was concerned about that sign getting vandalized or stolen out in the country. Adam Johnson, representing the PWD, suggested that locates will need to be done so a post can be installed to chain the electronic sign for security purposes.

Ebner pointed out that people aren’t slowing down for the CRV staff when they are working along the roads. Johnson shared that the crew had a pile of gravel dumped on the road and a driver just drove right over the pile without even slowing down.

According to City Attorney Joseph O’Koeren, enforcing the speed will be difficult since the city has no officers of its own. He reminded the council that Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk had mentioned that they could put in speed bumps or narrow and modify the roads in other ways to slow traffic.

Clerk Mary Miner encouraged the council to put a notice in the city newsletter and appeal on social media to encourage drivers to slow down for their own and other’s safety.

A complaint was made by a resident located on such a road. The resident had just put down dust control on August 2; the city had graded the road shortly after that because the road had become washboarded. The same resident had called Councilman Travis Link about the issue.

Although Link was absent from the council meeting, he’d left a suggestion that perhaps the city staff could call residents along a road before grading it so residents would be aware it was going to be done. The council decided to have staff give residents a courtesy call before such grading, leaving a message if necessary. The staff will document that the calls were made. Residents will be encouraged to contact city hall or the council if they have any concerns.

Leak in South Rushford Park

PWD’s Adam Johnson reported that a leak had been found under a hydrant at the South Rushford Park. A shutoff valve had been installed, but there is still a hissing sound when water is turned on.There is no water visible above ground from the leak.

Two professional plumbers have been consulted about the issue; they suggested digging it up to find the issue. A vent on the bottom could have pulled sand into it. Councilman Mike Ebner informed the council they had tried rinsing it out, but that hadn’t helped. He told the council that one of the plumbers had commented that in the last few years a lot of systems had issues with breaking under the hydrants.

Planning and Zoning

Planning and Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit was absent from the meeting, but shared the two new permits for CRV. Kristen and Steven Burdey received a permit for a chicken coop at their residence. Brad and Kari Johnson received a permit to remove and replace front porch decking and framing.

Other Business

Adam Johnson shared that the city’s snowplow needed cutting edges and new tires before the snow plowing season. The council accepted the quotes of $835 from Universal for the cutting edges and $1,836 for six tires from Brown’s Tire and Battery.

The Truth in Taxation (TNT) meeting was set for December 1 at 6:45 p.m. This meeting has to take place after the proposed budget is sent to the county and before the final budget gets sent to the county. The proposed budget needs to be sent to Fillmore County by September 20 according to Clerk Miner. The city was scheduled to conduct a budget workshop September 2 to work on next year’s budget.