Organizers seek limited road closure, officer support to move Big Nut Strut to high school campus

Sarah Benedict, event director for the Big Nut Strut, asked the Events and Commemorations Committee on Sept. 16 to endorse a new route that would move most of the community 5K and one‑mile walk onto the new high school campus and require a short public‑road closure and special‑duty police coverage.

Benedict said the event will be Sunday, Oct. 12, and that moving much of the course onto school property will reduce interaction with through traffic. "Safety has to be the number one priority regardless," Benedict said. She told the committee the preferred course would follow Miller Drive, take a left on Myers Drive, wrap around and return to the school, and that the preferred option had already been reviewed by public safety staff.

Why it matters: organizers said the pavilion site used in prior years created safety and traffic challenges that became untenable as participation grew. Benedict said proceeds are distributed evenly to the local schools' PTOs and that the event typically draws about 800 attendees.

Discussion and details: Benedict said public safety staff — identified in the meeting as Chief Kovacs and Chief Howard — signaled support for the preferred course (called "option 1" in the packet) and that Chief Kovacs would only approve the application if the committee stayed with option 1 because it avoids blocking Keystone Court. Committee member Daryl (surname not specified) told the group he had placed the item on the city council agenda for the next evening "to make sure that they can understand kind of how Miller Drive would be impacted." Daryl said he did not expect a formal committee vote but wanted consensus for a recommendation to council.

Benedict estimated roughly 800 attendees, with about half expected to run in the 5K — "probably around 400 to 500 5K runners," she said. She also said the event would affect residents near the course for about 15 to 45 minutes while the road was closed; organizers requested a police officer at the Miller/Myers corner to manage closure and resident access. Benedict said organizers will ensure emergency access and allow residents to enter or exit as needed during the brief closure.

Outcome and next steps: Committee members indicated support but did not take a formal vote. The committee agreed to place the matter on the city council agenda the following evening for official approval and for staff to continue coordinating with police and fire. Staff will contact the organizer with any additional conditions.

Notes on source material: quotations and attributions above come from the Sept. 16 committee meeting transcript. The committee did not adopt an ordinance or motion on the route at the meeting; formal approval was described as pending at the city council meeting the next day.