LOOGOOTEE, Ind.— The City of Loogootee Common Council voted Monday night to amend an ordinance establishing a one-way section on East Main Street, aiming to increase parking and improve traffic safety in the city on Mon. May 11.
Present at the Common Council Meeting were Loogootee City Mayor Brian Ader, members Dave Smith, Attorney Steven Teverbaugh, Mark McAtee, Jeremy Holland, and Mike Engleman.
The decision followed an extended debate over the best stopping point for the new one-way designation, with council members ultimately agreeing to end it at North Street rather than extend it to Wood Street.
Loogootee Mayor Brian Ader said the change was designed to create angled parking for more vehicles and address longstanding congestion issues in the area. “For the purpose of the one way is to create angle parking for more parking. There’s no parking available in the section from North to Wood,” a member said.
We have spoken with businesses that have been affected by the parking situation downtown, including Greene’s Auto Body, with whom we are still talking to, (look out for a story on our page soon). Council members voiced concerns about potentially reducing parking or confusing drivers unfamiliar with the area. Others said the change would benefit both businesses and public safety by diverting traffic from a dangerous intersection.
“We’re trying to divert people coming south, out on Wood Street, keep them from going out there on East and West Main Street, which is one of the more dangerous intersections as part of the whole,” said a member of the council representing the public safety perspective.
The council agreed to monitor the effects of the new one-way section and revisit the ordinance if traffic or parking issues persist.
The council also discussed a new master service agreement for professional services with CHA, formerly Midwest Engineers. The agreement is designed to streamline future engineering projects by eliminating the need for separate contracts on each project. The council agreed to have the city attorney review the agreement before final approval.
The council also approved a $13,600 change order to add additional stenciling and artwork to the water tower, using contingency funds set aside for infrastructure improvements. The water department reported that new communications equipment would soon be installed to improve data systems and efficiency.
The meeting concluded with council members discussing the budget impact of recent purchases and the need to prioritize essential upgrades in the future.
