Street connector now a dead issue

Local News

September 8, 2010

By Ronica Shannon Register News Writer The Richmond Register Wed Sep 08, 2010, 02:00 PM EDT

BEREA — The Berea City Council voted Tuesday to let die a connection between Pinnacle and Locker streets that had been proposed three years ago.

A 2007 public forum on the issue showed that an overwhelming majority of area residents were opposed to the connection, said City Administrator Randy Stone. Most opponents then stating they feared the connection would funnel too much traffic through their quite neighborhoods.

The issue brought up again at a council meeting last month when council member Troy VanWinkle asked that another public forum be conducted to allow more discussion.

A forum conducted before Tuesday’s regular meeting was more about letting council members discuss the issue, rather than seek additional comment from the public, Berea Mayor Steve Connelly said.

“A public forum asks people to comment on a plan,” Connelly said. “At this point, it doesn’t seem we have a plan.”

The city had hired an engineering firm several years ago to draw specification for a connector Stone said, but no other planning has been done.

“I thought this issue had been put to bed,” said council member Violet Farmer.

The consensus in 2007 was to take no action, she said.

The opinion of the residents has not changed from that of 2007, Stone said.

However, both Farmer and Stone agreed the council should have officially voted then to leave no uncertainty.

“The council failed (then) to bind this by ordinance,” VanWinkle said. “I struggle with making a plan without the public’s input.”

Also discussed Tuesday was the possibility of connecting Kenway and Pine avenues so both would have access to the second phase of the Berea Bypass. However, Stone said funding for the second phase of the bypass is not available, so plans for it are stalled.

The connector “hinges on the bypass” construction, he said.

The main reason a connector would be to provide additional access fire and police into Roselawn subdivision, which has only one entrance, Stone.

In other business:

• The council voted to draft an ordinance that would allow the city’s property tax rate to remain at .099 cents per $100 of assessed value. The first reading will be heard at the council’s next regular meeting, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Berea Police and Municipal Building.

• The council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would reduce the franchise fee for Berea Municipal Utilities from 3 to 2.5 percent.

The 3-percent rate was implemented “in anticipation of the city of Berea’s purchase of the water and electricity utilities from Berea College,” the ordinance states. However, “the city has increased utility rates” and the decrease in the franchise fee is a way to “reduce the burden on taxpayers.”

• A bid for GIS scanners was awarded to Lynn Imaging in the amount of $10,500.

• The council voted to accept Pepper Drive into the city maintenance program.

• A traffic light will be installed at the intersection of Scaffold Cane Road and Cherry Lane.

• Connelly read a proclamation deeming Sept. 17-19 as Constitution Week.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.

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