WAUPACA COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION

October 18, 2012

The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Patrol Captain Terry Wilz.  The meeting location was Hotel Fremont in Fremont, Wisconsin.

Members Present:  Patrol Captain Terry Wilz, Chief Deputy Allen Kraeger, Area DOT Program Manager Thomas Knoop, Dr. Jerry Salan, Highway Commissioner Dean Steingraber, Driver’s Education Representative Larry Schlueter, State DOT Representative Tony Kemnitz, and Population Representative Bob Flease.

Patrol Captain Wilz read the open meeting statement.

Motion by Tom Knoop, seconded by Bob Flease to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.  Motion carried without a negative vote.

Motion by Tom Knoop, seconded by Larry Schlueter to approve the agenda.  Motion carried without a negative vote.

Patrol Captain Wilz - see attached Traffic Report.     There were three fatalities in the quarter.  Tom said the State reported that Waupaca County had eight total fatalities for the year and our records show five.  He will check into the discrepancy. 

Dean Steingraber - Nothing

Larry Schluetter – Nothing

Dr. Salan – Nothing

Tony Kemnitz – Provided follow-up to agenda items from last quarter.  Hwy 110/Ramsdell signage for Marion Auto Body.  Tony looked at the signing that was there with a rep from Marion Auto Body.  They are having trouble with deliveries coming into their yard with large parts.  Access is off of Bennett.  They advised Marion Auto Body to possibly put some additional signing on the building that would be seen from Hwy 110.  Brian was directed to contact Tony Culver from DOT who works with off right-of-way signs.  Business signs are not allowed in the right-of-way on a state highway.   An application had been received from Waupaca County regarding CTY T.  Crash data did not show this area to be eligible for funding at this time.  Tony met with Sgt. Gene Goode on the Hwy 110 bridge.  The Village of Fremont was interested in running ATV’s on Hwy 110.  That is not permissible on a state highway, per DOT policy.  They could apply for a trail crossing permit.  Hwy 10/Vaughan Road issue was brought up.  The medium is not wide enough to house a semi.  The DOT has engaged a consultant to look at this area.  The study should be completed within 12 months.  Hwy 10/River Drive- problem with the alignment of Hwy 10.  Edge marking was added in 2007.  This location does not trigger any safety improvement flags that are used in their analysis process.  Per Chief Deputy Kraeger, our statistics don’t include those pulled out of the ditch in the winter with no damage.  DOT will continue to monitor this location.  Concludes updates.  Adding guard rail in the medium where it’s narrow in Hwy 10.  Tony’s understanding was that this was completed, but it hasn’t been done, per Captain Wilz.  Tony will check on this and report back to Captain Wilz.  Re: the Hwy 22/Q project – pavement was placed and right and left turn lanes were added.  Hwy 49 bridge north of Waupaca – completed on 09/27/12.  Hwy 54 was a grind and re-surfacing project from Waupaca County into Portage County.  Started 08/14/12 and is pretty much completed.  The DOT had been asked to address a pavement/pedestrian crossing by the Chain Elementary School.  This area has been upgraded as a school zone, instead of school crossing.  Dean asked about the CTY QQ/Hwy 54 medium modification project on the west edge of Waupaca near the new Kwik Trip.  Tony will check on this. 

Bob Flease – Nothing    

Tom Knoop – see attached.   The fatalities for the year are up.  Up 67 for the year on October 14.  Well above the five year average.  Continue to see multiple fatal crashes.   Dean mentioned that Waupaca County has the no-cell phone ordinance.  The county highway commission is pushing for no-cell phone usage while driving.  Tom sees a cell phone ban coming.  The law of the month for October is “Motorists will need to share the road with farm equipment and other slow-moving vehicles during harvest season”, November is “How to meet the challenges of winter driving in Wisconsin” and for December is “National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month”.  Hand-out referring to Wisconsin Act 164, which relates to probationary license drivers using cellular or other wireless telephones.  There have been over 400 citations written since this law went into effect.  Handed out a membership application form for Wisconsin Highway Safety Coordinators Association. 

Motion by Bob Flease, seconded by Al Kraeger to adjourn at 12:37 p.m.   Motion carried.  Our next quarterly meeting will be held on January 17, 2013 at 12:00 p.m., at Hotel Fremont, Fremont, Wisconsin.

Vickie Thoe, Secretary