Council approves Brookwood stop sign, hears Lane Parke update

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One stop sign will soon be added on Brookwood Road at its intersection with Crosshill Road, although two were originally planned. The city council authorized the sign’s placement and provided for punishment for violations of it at its Aug. 10 meeting.

It will be added at the south end of the intersection where traffic is flowing southbound.

The council had initially moved to approve two new stop signs at the intersection at the recommendation of Richard Caudle of Skipper Consulting. However, several residents who live around the intersection voiced objections to the second one at the July 27 council meeting. Lorelle Baddley said the stop sign would make it more difficult for her to pull out of her driveway during peak traffic times. Sean Hannon said he did not think the stop sign was necessary.

Following subsequent study, Caudle recommended the city add the stop sign where traffic is flowing southbound because of limited sight distance around it. You can now only see 170 feet, which is short of the 335 feet required. The northbound stop sign would have more significantly decreased a queue that forms during about 20 minutes of peak traffic in the morning, but its necessity is not as critical.

No one at the meeting spoke in favor or against the proposed ordinance.

“I certainly think that as you travel southbound will be an acceptable first step,” Council Member Lloyd Shelton said.

There are currently four stop signs at the northern end of the intersection and three at the southern end.

Earlier in the meeting, the council heard an update on the new retail section of Lane Parke from John Evans of Evson Inc. Construction began three weeks ago, and is on track for tenants to begin their build out by April.

“HOAR [Construction] is putting the gas pedal all the way down to get this thing going,” Evans said.

At the meeting the council also:

  • Heard a request to add a section of sidewalk and a crosswalk across Overbrook Road near Canterbury United Methodist to make it safer for children walking from Mountain Brook Junior High toward the church. Caudle did not recommend a flashing light but did recommend installing signage for crosswalk. A representative from Canterbury said the church would be willing provide an easement if needed for the crosswalk.
  • Heard a request for $5,000 of funding for the Prescott House request from David Barber. Barber founded the nonprofit organization in 1987 to provide better care for young victims of physical and sexual abuse as their cases proceed through the criminal justice system. “We use them far more than y’all would ever imagine,” Police Chief Ted Cook said. “I feel so strongly about it that I personally write them a check every year.” Council member Billy Pritchard encouraged Barber to provide information about how their services specifically affects people in Mountain Brook.
  • Discussed extending the sidewalk on the east side of Vine Street north to the alley. The project is estimated to cost $7,280 for 130 feet of sidewalk and 140 feet of curb and gutter. There are already be constructed across the street, but it might be perceived as a public sidewalk, Caudle said. The council favored moving forward with the sidewalk.
  • Reappointed Robert Thomason to the Jefferson County Board of Equalization and Adjustments.
  • Heard a request for $2,100 of funding for the Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health Authority from by Dr. Richard Craig. The city provides funding to the authority each year.
  • Proclaimed the month of September 2015 as Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. The proclamation said that more than 98,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian and gynecologic cancers and more than 30,000 women will die from them this year, and recognized the importance of education about symptoms and screening services. The city will also be tying teal ribbons around trees as a part the awareness month.
  • Appointed Susan Elliott to The Emmet O'Neal Library Board to serve without compensation through Sept. 30, 2019.
  • Declared a group of properties either abandoned/unclaimed or surplus and authorized its destruction and/or sale at public Internet auction.
  • Awarded a bid for an LED Lighting Project to Innovis Lighting and authorized the execution of a contract for it. It will cost $195.80 per unit for 105 LED retrofit light fixtures to be placed on existing pole top acorn fixtures. They will be placed in English Village, Overton Village and neighborhoods this year and in other areas in next year. They will save the city money in power costs.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be Monday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 56 Church Street.