Council hears traffic concern

Danny Bird, 706 W. Adams St., took to the public forum during Tuesday evening’s regular city council meeting to bring to light a concern he has for pedestrian safety near his residence.

Bird, who lives at the corner of West Adams Street and an alley running into the 700 block of West Adams Street, said cars driving north on the alley aren’t properly yielding for pedestrians before pulling up to West Adams Street.

“We’ve had about four or five kids about get hit by a car because nobody wants to stop before the sidewalk,” Bird said. “They’re driving past the sidewalk (along the south side of West Adams Street) ... and so I’m concerned and wondering what we can do.”

Bird said he’d spoken already with several Creston Police officers, and was referred to the city council. He said the segment of sidewalk in question is a popular walkway for kids getting dropped off to and from school.

“It’s something I have concern about because there’s a lot of kids who come through on that side of the road,” Bird said. “And I’m afraid that somebody’s going to fly up through there and the kids aren’t going to have enough chance to get out of the way.”

The council was sympathetic to Bird’s concern, but took no immediate action.

In other city council news:

• Creston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ellen Gerharz presented to the council a copy of the new edition of “travel IOWA,” a statewide tourism magazine.

Included in 2018’s issue is an advertisement for tourism in Creston and Union County. Also of note is a story titled “11 Must Shop Main Streets,” a list in which Corning and Greenfield both appear.

• The council approved the city to make application to a community development block grant for the facade rehabilitation project, and approved the city’s share of the local funding for the project up to $250,000.

• A motion was approved to allow Crest Haven Care Center the temporary use of city aid in housing its residences in the case of emergency (flood, tornado, fire, etc.).

The center was requesting the use of a city shop across the street from Crest Haven as a place it could temporarily house its residents while awaiting for transportation to the Regency Park Apartments Clubhouse in the event of an emergency.

Jacque Welchans, administrator for Crest Haven, said she made the request in light of the recent fire at Clearview Home in Clearfield.

• A temporary street closure was approved for Elms Club for the 10th Annual Bike Night to be held June 30. The indoor/outdoor event will include several music acts, and will run from around 4:30 p.m. through 1 a.m. the next morning.

• Six feet of Walnut Street adjacent to 119 N. Walnut St. was approved to be vacated by the city and sold to Tom Spencer for the purpose of constructing a larger enclosed entrance to his building.

• Ed Ritter’s resignation from the Historic Preservation Committee was approved by the council.