KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Call it democracy in action.
That’s what homeowners in the Vine neighborhood are saying about the city of Kalamazoo’s response to their complaints about a dangerous school crossing.
The parents have been complaining for weeks that the city’s plans to alter the crossing at Merrill and Howard may endanger student lives.
City Utility Director James Baker says they met with Vine parents twice and have come up with three new alternative solutions.
“We don’t have that finalized and so that’s really kind of the goal to continue to work with the community to come back to them and say here are all the options,” he says.
PTO official Dr. Todd Ellis says he would like that plan to include a stop light.
“Our students deserve a safe way to cross with beacons that clearly alert drivers to their presence and require them to stop.”
Baker says they are looking at all kinds of signals, signage, a pedestrian island and other configurations, and will meet again with school officials and parents.
“Our focus of those meetings both with Kalamazoo Public Schools and community members is to design that location, what does it look like, what are the features of it.”
Vine parent Margaret Wilson says it was refreshing to see the city’s response, with democracy seemingly in retreat worldwide.
“And I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for lifting up such a shining example of democracy working the way that it should,” says Wilson.
Commissioners were facing a use-it-or-lose it deadline this month on federal funding for the Safe Schools program, which also includes installing a new sidewalk to Winchell Elementary, so they approved it without the final design in place for the crosswalk.
Work on the project won’t begin until next year at the earliest.
Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Dave Boysen says in the meantime, they have stepped up directed patrols in that area before and after school to deter speeders.
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