Shelbyville City Council: Zoeller questions turning lights at bypass/U.S. 60 intersection

Council member Mike Zoeller raised a question at the end of Thursday’s regular Shelbyville City Council meeting, one that surely many residents have had cross their minds while waiting for traffic lights to turn.

View Map

“At the intersection of KY 55 [and U.S. 60] and the bypass, can we  get the left turn light to change to yellow instead of red? That way a car can use caution but still turn left if no traffic is coming. They do it Bowling Green and Somerset and other places.”

What would be even more common is just removing the red arrow, allowing cars to turn left on a solid green but yield to oncoming traffic.

City Engineer/Public Works Director Jennifer Herrell said she would look into the matter.

“I can make a call on that,” she said. “But I know, with the two turn lanes (heading west), that you cannot do that. To have the two turn lanes, that’s something you have to give up.”

Zoeller said he has seen the turning-lane traffic on the west side, the Simpsonville side, of the intersection backed up so far that cars could not get through to go straight through the light into Shelbyville.

“I just think that’s something we should think about,” he said. “We need to get someone thinking about it to see if it’s even possible.”

Before the turn signal from northbound KY 55 onto U.S. 60 West was installed – several weeks after the bypass opened – the intersection had allowed motorists to make a discretionary turn west without the benefit of a turn signal. That ended when the arrow was added.

Fire truck refurbished

The council approved an $111,504 bid from Appleton, Wis.-based Peirce Manufacturing to refurbish the fire department’s aerial ladder truck.

The truck was purchased in 1997 for about $400,000, and Assistant Fire Chief Chris Spaulding said a similar new truck would cost “about one million dollars today.”

The truck will be out of commission for about 120 to 150 days for the work, but Spaulding said they have commitments for help from the county if an aerial truck is needed. “We did the same thing for them a few years ago.”

The truck, he said, has some rust that needs to be removed, the pump will be overhauled, and the ladder has several loose welds.

“But there’s nothing wrong with the drive train, they won’t be doing any work there,” he added. “We should get at least another ten years out of the truck after this work, and maybe even another fifteen.”

Animal processing ordinance

In his report, Mayor Tom Hardesty reminded the public of the city’s animal processing ordinance that was passed in February.

“It’s not an anti-hunting ordinance by any means,” he said. “It’s simply an ordinance to remind you to keep your neighbors in mind when processing animals or fowl. Don’t do it in your front yard, Make sure you’re somewhere that you’re out of the way of your neighbors. With hunting seasons getting ready to get started, I thought this would be a good time to provide a reminder. Just remember to be respectful of your neighbors.”

Also at the meeting, the council:

• Heard in a report from Herrell that Public Works has issued new MS4 standards brochures for the public. The department will also have five employees graduating from the Road Scholar Program on Thursday. With leaf season in full swing, Herrell said Public Works has already picked up 685 bags of leaves from city residents, and has had other residents calling and requesting the picked up leaves for their compost piles. also reminded residents not to blow the leaves into the street. “We’ll be happy to come pick them up, but you have to bag them.”
• Approved a bid of $10,150 to demolish the house and clear the lot at 402 3rd Street. The lot, which is located directly behind the Shelbyville Police Station, will be turned into a parking lot for the station.
• Approved the appointment of Walt Reichert to the Tree Board. He’ll serve the remaining term of Wendy Rutledge, which expires Jan. 1, 2014.
• Hardesty reminded the council that the city’s Celebration of Lights is from 2-8 p.m. Saturday in downtown Shelbyville.
• City offices will be closed Nov. 12 in honor of Veterans Day.
• The city will present its Citizen of the Year today at the Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 annual luncheon. Gov. Steve Beshear will be the guest speaker.