SAFETY CONCERNS •
Juab School District will meet with Nephi City to
discuss the lack of sidewalks in our city to keep
kids off the roads when they walk to school. Above,
a teen walks toward Nephi Elementary on 4th East in
Nephi. With more new subdivisions being built in
the South end of Nephi, children's safety has
become a hot topic.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The city is in charge of sidewalks, not the school
district, however the school district still has concerns
about the safe travel of young children on their way to the
schools.
They plan a meeting with the city council in Nephi to
discuss issues such as the one Ruth Bonzo, a concerned Nephi
mother who lives on 300 East, called to their attention.
Bonzo earlier requested Nephi City make a safe path for
children to use as they go to and from school traveling
along 400 East.
Bonzo decided, she told board members, that after talking
to Nephi City Council she should talk to the school board as
well.
"Shouldn't sidewalk money come from part of the impact
fee money collected from new business?" asked Stacy Brooks,
board member. "I have seen a lot of children walking along
the street."
When new subdivisions are built, it is part of the city
ordinance that curbs and sidewalks are added to all
properties. Older homes, which pre-date the ordinance, do
not have sidewalks.
There are many such homes in the south east section of
the community.
The city has, for several years, designated 400 East as a
through street where there is only one stop sign, at 100
North, on the entire roadway from South Nephi through North
Nephi.
The street is becoming a major road for in-city travel,
said Bonzo.
"I sometimes jog along that street," said Superintendent
Kirk Wright.
For that reason, he said he was well aware of the safety
issue along the street. There were safety concerns even
early in the morning when he was out jogging.
"My husband also likes to jog but the gravel along the
edge of the street makes it difficult."
On 300 East there is a sidewalk almost all the way to
Nephi Elementary but the walk is not on both sides of the
street. It is mostly on the east side of 300 East.
However, most of the children do not use that street
because the school crossing guard is located at the corner
of 400 East and 100 North.
The new subdivisions, South Towne Estates and Walnut
Grove, were both along 300 East. As the subdivisions grow,
there comes more and more traffic and more and more
congestion.
"I worry about the safety of my own and other children
who use the street," said Bonzo.
Three other subdivisions are also being built along the
same street which will continue to add to the congestion on
the street.
"It is a city issue," said Delanie Hathaway, board vice
president. "We do have some other safety issues we need to
talk to the city council about."
She said the sidewalks issue would be added to the
district's agenda in a planned for meeting with the
city.
"We can express our concerns with yours," said Rick
Welsh, board member.
Bonzo said, in all likelihood, the area to the south of
the community will continue to grow because there is
property which could be developed along that corridor. As
the population grows, so will the problems for school
children continue to grow.
"I suggested the city build a bike path along the edge of
the road to provide safe travel by young school age
children," she said.
|
