Published: November 12, 2008 10:15 pm      

Four-way stop to become permanent

DANVILLE — Police report there have only been two incidents at Vermilion and Seminary streets with the four-way stop.

One was a rear-end accident and another occurred when a driver ran through the stop sign.

City Engineer David Schnelle reported the incidents prior to the city council¡¦s public works committee¡¦s approval Wednesday night to make the intersection a permanent all-way stop.

The full city council will act on the ordinance next week.

Schnelle reported the 90-day study successfully showed traffic flow improvements. The study started Aug. 14 and came after a first test during the summer.

The majority of the Downtown Transportation Focus Group, consisting of city and downtown employees and other representatives, recommended keeping the intersection an all-way stop instead of returning the traffic lights.

There have been fewer delays, and turning traffic improvements, Schnelle said.

Ward 3 Alderman Bill Gilbert said the traffic flow was ¡§a lot better than expected.¡¨

Public Works Director Doug Ahrens said they received phone calls for and against the change within the first 30 days of the study.

He thinks people have adjusted to it now.

With full council approval, the traffic signals would eventually come down. They will remain flashing now.

In other business, the committee heard from Comptroller Gayle Brandon that actuarial pension numbers aren¡¦t expected until Friday.

Aldermen will be given the numbers as part of the proposed tax levy, in addition to a rough city budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year prior to next week¡¦s public hearing on the tax levy.

Aldermen also learned that city bus ridership for October was up 13 percent despite a fare increase; and Gilbert stated he was ¡§disappointed¡¨ with the school district for students having to attend school on Veterans Day.

Also Wednesday, the committee recommended:

ƒÞ Retaining PersonalCare as the administrator of the city¡¦s self-insured health insurance plan and entering into an agreement with Coventry Health & Life Insurance Co. for the city¡¦s reinsurance coverage for Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2009. The total maximum plan liability is $4.2 million, or a 13.55 percent increase.

ƒÞ Approving 2009 Harrison Park Golf Course fees. There were only two changes to the daily special cart and green fee and for a small bucket of golf balls for the driving range.

¡§The range has continued to perform well¡K,¡¨ Ahrens said.

The annual end of year, discounted season pass sale will be Nov. 26 through Dec. 8.

ƒÞ Amending the Harrison Park golf course budget.

Due to a spring flood and other improvements, it¡¦s necessary for the city to increase budget line items to offset lost revenues of about $30,000.

About three-fourths of the sand traps had to be refilled, among other flood repairs.

The $35,500 will come from the Harrison Park reserve which has $78,000 available.

ƒÞ Extending the Ellsworth Park boat access grant agreement from Dec. 31 to June 30 because of flooding and high water levels that delayed part of the construction.

The city will construct a sidewalk and perform other restoration work. The ramp is being used now.

ƒÞ Approving a cash flow loan for the infrastructure development and improvement program fund in which gas tax funds go into.

There is no reserve now to cash flow seal coat and other road projects.

Brandon will borrow up to $500,000 from the city¡¦s working cash and sanitary sewer funds.