At last Monday’s meeting, the Carroll City Council voted 4-2 to approve a nearly $35,000 contract with consulting firm Snyder & Associates to develop a master plan for traffic signals along the U.S. Highway 30 corridor. Public Works Director Randy Krauel says many of the traffic control devices in town are in need of replacement, as some of them were installed almost 50 years ago.
At-Large Councilwoman JJ Schreck questions the need to pay $35,000 for a consultant when she believes the city is likely to replace all of the signals, posts, and controllers regardless of what the study finds.
Ward 2 Councilman Jason Atherton shares a similar position and says it would make more sense to him if they diverted the funds for the study to the actual cost of replacement, which is likely to cost millions of dollars.
Krauel adds that the study will identify how much life remains in each of the poles, which will be much cheaper than replacing all of them at once. Ward 4 Councilwoman Carolyn Siemann says they could spread the cost out over multiple budget years if they replaced them in phases.
The council voted 4-2, with Atherton and Schreck voting no, to approve the professional services agreement, estimated at $34,800, with Snyder & Associates to complete the Highway 30 traffic signal master plan.
