Stratford police chief clarifies turning rule on STH 97
By Kevin O’Brien
Drivers who turn right from STH 97 onto STH 153 in Stratford are not allowed to use the shoulder as a second lane of traffic, police chief Thomas Koontz told the village board last week.
“That’s an illegal maneuver for people to do,” Koontz said in response to a question raised by someone who had insisted that it was OK for drivers to use the far edge of the roadway closest to the curb for turning.
“It turns out that the driver’s ed instructors were teaching kids to do that,” Koontz said.
Just so more drivers are aware, Koontz said his officers have been pulling more people over at that intersection and issuing them written warnings about illegally using the shoulder as a lane of traffic. The stretch of STH 153 through the village only has one lane in each direction with a shoulder on each side, he said.
Koontz said he received a schematic from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation confirming what he said, so he hopes the issue will be put to bed.
Other business
■ The board approved an amendment to the village’s noise ordinance, raising the maximum daytime levels for commercial and industrial areas by 10 decibels. Based on the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee, the board raised the noise limit to 80 decibels for commercial zones and 85 decibels “all other zones” (industrial.) The stationary noise limit for residential areas will remain at 60 decibels during the day (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and 50 at night (between a refrigerator and normal conversation).
■ The board appointed Greg Austin to the water and electric utility commission after accepting the resignation of Jeff Aschebrock.
■ The board approved a motion to have the village cover the cost of electricity for the Street of Dreams Car Show. Dennee said the cost would not be that much, and board members thought it would be a good idea to cover the cost of a community event.
■ Chief Koontz said the village would be testing its weather siren at noon on the first Wednesday of the month starting in July.
■ The board renewed all of the village’s alcohol and tobacco licenses for the next year.
■ Trustees discussed doing a walking tour of the village’s facilities before its meeting in August.
Thomas Koontz
