City Council members address issues

City Councilwoman Linda Starr highlighted a safety concern during last week's Common Council meeting. While walking downtown, she noticed that one of the grates around a tree in the 100 block of North Michigan Street, also known as State Road 17, on the west side, needed inspection. Starr said the tree is pushing the grate up out of the ground, and said, “It’s an accident waiting to happen.” 

The councilwoman questioned who would be responsible if someone were to trip, fall, and hurt themselves, and if the city has any control over the issue.

Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt said his department can assess the issue and sometimes modify or remove part of the grate to give the tree trunk more space. He mentioned another option is to remove the grate and replace it with mulch.  

Mayor Listenberger said the trees in the downtown are at the end of their lives. The city removed one tree last year and plans to remove another one this year. The mayor said a downtown streetscape project has been looked at with drawings and comments.  

Councilman Randy Longanecker also expressed several concerns. He said on the way to the city meeting, he was passed on Baker Street by a go-kart, and it didn’t stop at Baker and Columbus Drive. Police Chief Weir told the councilman that he's working on that, as well as addressing kids on motorcycles that aren’t roadworthy.

Longanecker said he is still seeing golf carts on the Greenway Trail near Riverside Intermediate School. Although the park has signs stating,"no motorized vehicles," people continue to drive their golf carts on the trail. 

Longanecker was at a car show in River Park Square recently and observed a couple of issues in the new pavilion: an electrical cover and a railing that need attention. He also commented on parking issues at the new Marshall County Health Department. He said that Dora Lane could someday continue south, but someone painted stripes there, and they are parking in that area.  Longanecker said they are also parking a pick-up truck and trailer in the curb cut for New Song Church off Dora Lane, and he saw the mobile RV unit parked on the street and plugged into the building.

Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt said there are plans for some rezoning and replotting with Habitat for Humanity. The plan is to extend Dora Lane further south.    

Councilman Longanecker also questioned whether the building commissioner had been contacted by the Brass Rail regarding their outdoor lighting. While the lighting isn’t using the city’s light posts or trees, nor the state’s stop light poles, the councilman is concerned that what they have isn’t secure enough.