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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTraffic Safety Commission - Minutes - 5/18/2017MINUTES OF THE BAYFIELD COUNTY TRAFFICE SAFETY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, May 18, 2017 The regular meeting of the Bayfield County Traffic Safety Committee was called to order by Chairman Paul Susienka at 9:00 am on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at the Bayfield County Emergency Operations Center, Washburn, WI. Attendees: Paul Susienka, Bayfield County Sheriff, Tom Toepfer-Bayfield County Highway Dept., Jeff Benton-Red Cliff, Dan Bieberitz-WI DOT, Don Swedberg-Citizen, Randy Wiessenger – BOTS LE Liaison, Trooper Shane Molinen-State Patrol, Trooper Ann Workman- State Patrol, Sgt. Pat Kraetke-State Patrol, Tony Williams- IRPD Chief, Deb Milanowski-Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Tom Toepfer, 2nd by Don Swedberg to approve the minutes from February 23, 2017. Motion carried. Public Input: Tony Williams -IRPD Chief: Chief Williams discussed adding digital speed signs (that flash the speed at approaching vehicles) on Hwy 2 and County Highway H on the north and south side of Moon Lake Park. The cost for the unit is $1100 and he would like to install 6 units. Tony brought this to the committee for funding ideas since there is no grant money available from WIDOT. He indicated that they have raised about $6000 through donations. These would be on all the time during high traffic periods such as the summer months and occasionally on during the off-peak times (winter). Discussion of increasing the speed limit in town to 35. Dan offered a speed study for the area. Report from Tom Toepfer: Received a request to reduce the speed on Co Hwy H to Twin Bear to 45mph. Rusty Williams has a constituent who wants the speed decreased in that area. The committee had discussed this at a previous meeting and the committee didn’t see the need to make that change. Co Hwy D (from 63 to Loon Saloon) will be reconstructed this year. It will be down to one lane traffic. They will be putting in a new bridge on County Hwy E (Four Corners) and this road will be closed during that construction. Report from Paul Susienka: The Sheriff and Deb reviewed with the committee the traffic accidents for the county using the Community Maps program. Reviewed the 1 fatal and increase in deer crashes. Discussed the lack of option under the ‘flags’ on community maps. More options would help in determining patterns with crashes. Report from Dan Bieberitz: Reviewed the 2 projects that will occur. The first is the Highway 13 culvert replacement project. There will be single lane traffic at times and a detour will be needed for a period of time during this replacement. This will be from Washburn to Bayfield. The 2nd project is the repaving of that section once the culverts have been replaced. This should begin in July and go through Labor Day. Report from Jeff Benton: There will be a culvert replacement on Blueberry Road (Red Cliff Creek) and the road will be closed. From the gas station in Red Cliff to the new clinic, the speed will be reduced from 55 to 45 on Hwy 13. The Red Cliff Traffic Safety plan is still ongoing and should be done next spring. Report from Community Representative: Don Swedberg asked about the new sign for Red Cliff that would be placed near the roundabout to clarify that traffic should follow HWY 13 North to get to Red Cliff. Dan thinks the sign is still on order. Jan entered the meeting at 9:55am. Report from Jan Victorson: Jan updated the committee on the Be Somebody campaign in Brule. Looking to bring awareness and recruit new volunteers. Report from State Patrol: Ann Workman advised the committee that she had been having radio troubles but it has now been resolved and everything is working how it should. Report from Randy Wiessinger: Randy updated the committee with the latest statistics in WI regarding accidents. We were down in fatal accidents from last year (165 from 185). However, pedestrian fatalities have increased (42.9%). These mostly occurred in Milwaukee. Bayfield County’s 5-year average for fatal accidents is 5 per year. Randy indicated that the State is looking at setting ATV guidelines to help municipalities with setting up ATV routes. Hopefully there will be more after the Governor’s Conference. Meeting ended at 10:10am Respectfully submitted by Deb Milanowski Next meeting is scheduled for 8/17/17 at 9:00am at the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office in the EOC.