The August 5 Fountain Council meeting was well attended, as several residents voiced their concerns over continued and increasing speeding on Cedar Street. The roughly quarter mile road has become a cut-through, particularly during commuting hours, for drivers between County Road 8 and Highway 52.
Cedar Street resident Dan Byer presented the council with a petition of residents asking the city to take some sort of action. “This is the second time around we have discussed this,” noted Byer. In addition, it was noted by fellow Cedar Street resident and Councilor Ron Reisner that two mailboxes on the road had been plowed over by speeding drivers over the weekend.
How to best address the issue is still up for debate. Reisner suggested the city purchase temporary rubber speed bumps to be placed spring through fall. The city purchased a digital speed sign through a cooperative cost-sharing with 10 other municipalities several months ago, but the sign has been held up by slow payments by some of the cities. According to Brenda Polhman, Fillmore County Public Health, the final payment is now on its way and the sign is expected in two to three weeks. The sign will not only warn drivers of their speed, but collect various amounts of data, including speeds, number of vehicles, times of day, that will be shared via Bluetooth technology.
Polman suggested the city could seek assistance from the county setting the one-sided sign, but Fountain Public Works will likely do the work. She also suggested Highway 52 could be a location for it, but noted the state would have to be contacted prior.
“The point of moving the signs is so you don’t become habituated to them or stop looking to the sign for feedback,” added Pohlman. “People see it, but know there’s a consequence side to it. It’s a combined effort.”
“I don’t feel that the residents on the street should be punished for the issue,” stated Byer. “I don’t have a problem if you want to put a speed bump in front of my house, but I think you should shut the street down if it continues to be an issue. These are not people from town.” He went on to suggest a farm gate be placed across the road to close it off, leaving it open to maintenance work. However, as pointed out by Councilor Dave Gudmundson, city streets must remain unblocked for emergency services.
“How many other dead ends are in town? It’s a one way in and a one-way out. It’s the only thing that’s going to be effective,” responded Byer. “It’s just a matter of time that there’s going to be an accident.”
Conversation also included the hiring of a third-party to operate a traffic camera to give tickets. Councilor Terry Hanson referenced Chester, Iowa, where a camera was put in place. According to Hanson, to date the Chester camera has taken in $91,000 in ticket revenue, a percentage of which goes to the city. He further explained that the company retains ownership of the camera and revenue.
“It might be the way to do it,” said business owner Jody Wiza. “It sounds crazy, but those things work. All it takes is the first ticket and you’re not going to go blowing through. All it takes is a few people to get a ticket and they’ll start talking.”
“It’s definitely gotten worse year after year after year,” stressed Byer. “Something has to change. It’s just non-stop.”
Discussion then returned to temporary use of a speed bump. According to Pohlman, the cost for a 9-10’ section is $1,000 a piece. The county has included a portable speed bump in recent grant applications and it will be made available for cities to use on a temporary basis. It was recommended by Gudmundson that the city purchase or place four speed bumps, as opposed to one on each end of the road, to discourage speeding between them. Wiza added that it may help to have the online mapping route through town changed, as it currently directs traffic down Cedar Street.
The city made no official action, but instead will wait for the digital sign to be placed and possibly the county’s portable speed bump, if they are awarded it in their grant application.
In other news, the council also reviewed the Preparedness Plan put forth by Wiza, owner of Beaver Bottoms Saloon, for a planned outdoor concert at the premises. At a special council meeting last month, the city directed Wiza to prepare the plan after having the occupancy of the area professionally determined. The plan was also reviewed by Fillmore County Public Health after submission July 23. The role of Public Health was to neither approve or disapprove plans, but offering guidance and suggestions for gaps. Recommendations were received by Wiza from the county office two hours prior to the August 5 council meeting.
For the planned August 14 concert event, the saloon is encouraged to follow all guidance for restaurant/bar and entertainment industries according to the Stay Safe MN plan. These include reassessment the plan to ensure how entry, lines, and exits will be managed, how social distancing and sanitation will be maintained, how 25% capacity will be maintained during concert events, how 50% capacity will be maintained for the restaurant/bar during non-concert events, how masks will be used by staff and patrons, how seating will be managed, how household pods [groups of no more than four, six if from the same family] will be managed, and how illness will be managed/treated. In addition to these guidelines, Pohlman noted there must be a 12-foot distance between performers and patrons, bonus/backstage passes must be limited to just four patrons, and medical/isolation areas should include separate areas for COVID symptoms and other medical needs. Furthermore, she suggested no “impromptu sales” of tickets should be done at the door.
Wiza stated every person will get a health and temperature screening before entry. If 99 degrees or above, the ticket will be refunded and they’ll be asked to leave. Those granted entry will sign a book for identification. Patrons will enter through the front door and be escorted to assigned seating. An employee will be counting entries/exits to maintain correct capacity numbers. All employees and patrons will be required to have a mask.
Occupancy limits for the area were determined to be 309, according to Wiza. However, with the governor’s mandate of gatherings of no more than 250, the expected number is less than 250. To date, less than 100 tickets have been sold.
Pohlman cautioned that the formulas to determine capacity need to be followed explicitly. If wanting 50% capacity in the restaurant and 25% for the entertainment, as per guidelines, the restaurant/bar and concert areas must be treated as individual areas with absolutely no cross over from one into the other.
“I don’t want that or I won’t have any control and that’s where we’ll have issues of cross contamination,” noted Wiza, who stated she plans to follow the 25% capacity rule. “It’s a lot more confined than you’re thinking. It’s not four million people coming to town. It’s going to be a lot easier to maintain.”
“The Preparedness Plan has to be complete before anything else happens,” stated Mayor Jim Schott. “The thing is, I know you just got it today, but we can’t approve your celebration without the update. We can’t say yea or nay.”
“It’s not a yay or nay thing,” responded Wiza. “I’m going to stay within the guidelines. I’m here to work with you guys. I understand that I’m on limited time.” Wiza estimated she could have a final plan to the city, with the new updates, by August 7.
Clerk Mary Tjepkes suggested the council members come in, independently of each other, to review the plans, so the city can avoid a quorum and a special meeting.
Finally, reminders to the general public from the council. First, a budget meeting will be held August 12, at 6 p.m., at city hall. Secondly, all dogs within the city must be leashed at all times, unless on their own property. A complaint has been made of dogs running at large. “We don’t want to send the police out to find dogs. Keep them on a leash, in your yard, and clean up after them,” said Schott.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, September 2, at 7 p.m., at the Community Center. The public is encouraged to attend.
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