As part of their policy and planning meeting following regular business Tuesday, the Pella City Council discussed the possibility of adding traffic controls to busy streets near the Pella School District’s main campus.

Pella Schools Superintendent Greg Ebeling gave a presentation to the city council about the dangers they see daily at the intersections of East 8th and University Street and East 8th and Vermeer Road.

A proposed three-way stop at the intersection of University and East 8th will be considered at the City Council’s next meeting on Monday, June 19th. If approved, two stop signs would be added in both directions along University. Councilmember Tony Bokhoven raised concerns the impact traffic controls would have on those turning left onto University from East 8th heading northbound.

Public Works Director Denny Buyert and the rest of the council said there is no other reasonable alternative, and that many drivers don’t use that section of road in that way during peak hours–or when the stop signs are most needed.

The Pella City Council also decided to wait for a traffic study to determine the next step for possible traffic control at East 8th and Vermeer Road. City staff indicated that the resurfacing of Vermeer Road from East 8th to 240th is scheduled for review by an engineer this fall, and new pickup lanes installed at Pella High School will likely change traffic flow prior to that project beginning.

Hear more from this week’s Pella City Council meeting on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.