Supervisors approve making intersection of Old Stage and Old Highway 9 a four-way stop

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, July 20, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour to discuss the troublesome intersection of Old Stage Road and Old Highway 9 west of Waukon. Ridenour said that the intersection was recently the subject of an Iowa Department of Transportation-funded traffic engineering study that recommended the installation of solar-powered LED beacons at the intersection, but did not recommended turning the intersection into a four-way stop. Ridenour added that the County has been offered an $11,050 traffic safety grant to install the beacons as recommended and that he recommends accepting the grant and installing the beacons, along with 45 mph advisory signs.
Maury Gallagher of Postville, who has previously addressed the Board regarding the intersection, said that even if the beacons and 45 mph advisory signs were installed, the main problem with the intersection would still exist, which is that oncoming traffic from the west on Old Highway 9 can’t be seen by motorists traveling north on Old Stage Road.
Supervisor Dan Byrnes, who has previously voiced his support for making the intersection a four-way stop, said that his position hasn’t changed. “There’s a blind spot there and I think it should be a four-way stop,” he said. With no motion made to accept the traffic safety funding for the beacon lights, Byrnes, instead, made a motion to pass a resolution to make the intersection a four-way stop. Supervisor Dennis Koenig seconded the motion and the resolution passed unanimously. Ridenour said that it would take several weeks to grind rumble strips and install the new stop signs.
The Board also met with Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake to discuss the first formal reading of an amendment to the County’s zoning ordinance to allow “cluster housing” subdivisions. Blake said that he had heard no further comments from the public about the proposed amendment. He again briefly explained that under the proposed amendment, the minimum building lot size could be reduced from the current three-acre minimum to as small as one acre, providing that at least 25% of the housing subdivision is set aside for conservation, agriculture or recreation. The Board unanimously approved the first reading of the amendment and set Monday, July 27 at 10:15 a.m. as the date and time to consider the second and third readings and passage of the amendment.
In other business, the Board met with Allamakee County Treasurer Lori Hesse, who asked for and received approval to hire Rita Troendle as a part-time clerk in the Treasurer’s office starting Thursday, August 13 at $14.00 per hour for 25 hours per week. The Board also accepted and placed on file the quarterly reports from Planning and Zoning and the Treasurer. The Board also accepted the resignation of 39-year Secondary Roads veteran Steve Troendle with the Board’s thanks for many years of dedicated service.
During public comment time, Chairman Larry Schellhammer expressed his appreciation to the Allamakee County Fair Board and volunteers, as this year’s Allamakee County Fair seemed to have gone very well.