by Olivia Tucker
Intern Reporter
The Scott County Commissioners approved a second reading for a stop sign at the Cutshall and Slab Roads intersection when they met Wednesday, July 20. Despite the unanimous approval, the vote was not without considerable discussion.
Commissioner Randy Julian said, “ Last meeting we had a couple of people show up that were not for it.” Julian added that he walked down Cutshall Road on the east side to Terry Road talking to residents. He said that he didn’t get a single no.
Commissioner John Lizenby shook his head in response to Julian and said that wasn’t true. But Julian said he had 74 signatures that were in favor a stop sign being at that intersection.
“I understand looking at line of sight can help, “said Julian, “But you know line of sight on somebody else’s property is not something that you can maintain permanently.” He said that though having law enforcement to maintain speed is something that can be done, the amount of staff availability can be affected by it.
“All of those things are not a set in stone way of taking care of this problem,” said Julian. “The main way to take care of this problem is to put a stop sign.”
Resident of Cutshall Road Aaron Lewis said, “(My family) lives on the east side of Cutshall road and my job requires me to pull a trailer, an enclosed trailer.” He presented the commissioners with photos of his line of sight that he sees daily at the intersection. One of the biggest concerns is going west is that there are tree limbs on the east side that block the line of sight to see oncoming traffic.
Lewis’ wife Tracey said that in a smaller vehicle that is lower to the ground it is harder to see down the road.
Commissioner President Mike Jones said that he took the same photos as Lewis and also said that the stop sign is being used as a speed reduction tool.
Lizenby added that County Auditor Tammy Johnson looked up when the stop sign was last spoken about in commissioners’ minutes in 1987. Jones had said that he talked to someone that was there when it was put up and was told “it was a mess”.
The second reading passed unanimously.
The final reading on a stop sign at the intersection could be at the next commissioners’ meeting in August.
In other matters, the Commissioners said that the repairs to the original courthouse roof support have begun by Thomas Plastic Machinery of Scottsburg with securing the crawl space, the first floor, and the cracked beam connected to the roof of the original courthouse. Royalty Roofing of Seymour will be repairing the roof decking and installing a new roof covering, it was previously reported.