Resident tells council new crosswalk is unsafe
Mayor Steve Smith said the crosswalk was installed for safety reasons, and the flashing lights cost about $13,000.
Strasburg Council met Tuesday, May 2 and heard from Bruce Metzger, a resident, about the crosswalk at Fourth Street Southeast and Wooster Avenue.
Metzger said he witnessed a man almost getting hit crossing the street. Mayor Steve Smith said the crosswalk was installed for safety reasons, and the flashing lights cost about $13,000.
Smith said a motorist is responsible for stopping when someone is crossing the street. He said getting the speed limit lowered to 25 mph on Wooster Avenue should help. Other residents attending the meeting claimed it is a false sense of security when they push the button to cross and motorists are not stopping to allow pedestrians to cross.
Councilmen Marty Zehnder and Dustin Briggs got into a discussion about the crosswalk. Zehnder said he hopes no one gets hit when crossing, and Briggs said it was a safety issue and safety measures needed to be installed. It was noted the flashing lights are easier to see at night as opposed to the daytime.
“Should we have done nothing?” Briggs said.
Zehnder said nothing should have been done, and youths should cross at the First Street traffic light to go to Franklin Park.
In another matter Smith reminded residents the compost area is not to be used for large items such as wooden fence sections. Tree limbs should be cut to 4-foot lengths, and all grass should be removed from the plastic bags. No commercial landscapers are permitted to unload debris at the site.
Residents speak
Council did the following:
—Heard a request from Patsy Schrump, a resident, to have vehicles park on the north side of Eighth Street Southwest instead of the south side. Smith said he will have an answer by the May 16 meeting.
—Was asked by Metzger about the old playground equipment at Franklin Park and how it got to Stoney Point near Sugarcreek. Fiscal officer Jen Mahoney said she will find the signed release and information about the equipment.
—Heard from a representative from the Soccer Club asking if they can use the football field for 14U soccer games. Council suggested they contact the school. The village owns the land, and the football field is owned by the school.
—Reminded residents six parking places will be painted between the traffic lights once the temperature stays at 50 F during the night. There is no parking in front of the Village Garden bulk food store. There will be a parking space in front of the post office, two at SSB Community Bank and three in front of Gameday Grill.
—Appointed councilman Don Wallick to represent council on the cemetery board replacing council member Liz Dreher, who will be unable to attend the cemetery board meetings.
—Approved Smith to attend a Mayors Association of Ohio Conference June 21-22 in Columbus. Zehnder cast the lone no vote.
—Held the first reading of a resolution authorizing the sale of surplus fire equipment for a nominal sum to the Village of Newcomerstown, which is establishing a fire department in its village. They have a part-time fire chief and 10 volunteer fire department members.
Additional information
Garage/yard sales will be May 11-15 in the village. No permit is needed.
Police responded to 273 calls in April.
Council will meet May 16 at 6 p.m. at 224 N. Bodmer Ave. in Strasburg. At 5 p.m. two zoning board of appeals public hearings will be held for requests to allow a mobile home to be placed at 241 Railroad Ave. and a variance to construct a garage at 601 Sixth St. SW.