Warsaw Street Department will be looking at all stop signs at alley intersections throughout the city to update the ordinance, make documentation and possibly remove some signs. This was one of several topics at Wednesday’s meeting of Warsaw’s Traffic Safety Commission.

Warsaw Police Lt. Kip Shuter and Jeff Beeler, city street superintendent, noted there are numerous locations throughout the city where alley stop signs are not supported or documented in city ordinances. “They were put up without legal backing,” Beeler stated.

The street department will be documenting all location noting why it is there and justification. “We will go case by case,” said Beeler, “should it be there? Why or why not and then document it … Just because it has been there for years doesn’t cover us,” said Beeler.

Shuter provided a list of 11 locations with one-way, two-way or four-way stop signs based on what is already covered in the city ordinance.

Discussion was held regarding the need. It was noted people are “sue” happy and documentation will assist in any legal matters. “We didn’t want them out there for us to be a money exchange machine.”

In other traffic matters Beeler stated he will being upgrading traffic signals with battery back-ups, in case of a power outage. He will be budgeting two lights per year for upgrade. The first ones will be at Center and Parker and Center and Frontage Road.

The cost is approximately $6,000 per light. The backup will provide two hours of operation with an option to hook up to a small generator if power is out longer. The lights can also be changed to caution if necessary. “This will give us a window of time (when/if there is a power outage) to properly get down there, get set up or take down stop signs.

“It’s a long time coming,” said Shuter who noted the railroads use battery backups at their crossing. Beeler and Shuter will also be checking with the state highway to see if they plan on installing a battery backup system.

Major intersections will be completed first before moving to secondary intersections.

During other business:

• A request for a four-way stop sign at Colfax and Sheridan was noted. It is unwarranted as there have been few accidents in the last five years at the intersection. However with the future construction of a new Lincoln Elementary and entrance off Colfax, stop signs in that area will be reviewed at that time.
• Beeler announced the receipt of a grant for $27,000 to upgrade railroad crossing markings and signage at all crossings in town for safety and visibility. It was also noted attempts are being made to have the railroad return to repair, for the third time, the crossing on Ranch Road and Market Street.
• The commission heard concerns from commission member Mike Klondaris on intersections being blocked; bicyclist on sidewalks; and skateboarders in parking lots in the downtown area.
• Beeler announced road striping will begin next week and should take several weeks to complete.
• An update was given on the Market Street project. The first phase, between Bronson and Colfax will have traffic disruptions through June, before work is moved to another two-block area. The project will not be completed until Thanksgiving, but disruption in traffic is expected through September. Central dispatch will be notified for any road closure.