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Board presses county for action on school driveway; engineering work stalled by pending traffic-study approval
Summary
Board members and district staff discussed a stalled driveway project on May 19, saying county approval of required traffic studies is preventing engineering and construction work.
Board members and staff on May 19 discussed a multi-year problem with a driveway and intersection near the Monroe Local campus, saying the district is prepared to move forward but is waiting on county approvals for traffic studies before engineering work can proceed.
Superintendent Buskirk told the board that a meeting is scheduled for Thursday to plan next steps and that the district continues to push the county to respond. He said the district's attorneys had sent a letter to the county offering to partner on a turn lane tied to the driveway but that the county had not replied.
District staff and a board member said Monroe does not consider the road to be the district's responsibility and will not accept liability for the intersection at State Route 63 and Yankee Road. Because the county has not approved traffic studies, the engineering firm the district hired has been unable to proceed with design work, staff said. That hold-up means that more work remains before construction can begin.
Board discussion focused on contingency steps the district can take so work can start quickly once approvals arrive: hiring an engineering firm now to perform compaction and drainage design, preparing drawings for a right-turn-only lane, and staging construction so the driveway can be completed to a point near the road pending final county sign-off. One board member urged staff to have direct contact information for county engineers so progress can be expedited.
Next steps and follow-up - District staff will hold an internal meeting with attorneys and the team that sent the county letter to determine next steps. - Superintendent Buskirk said he will call the county engineer to request the status of the traffic study approvals and to seek direct engagement. - Staff said they had already hired an engineering firm but that the firm cannot proceed until the traffic study is approved; board members recommended preparing engineering drawings now so the district can act immediately when the county responds.
Why this matters The driveway and intersection design affect access to campus, traffic flow during events (including graduation), and the timing of a planned driveway construction project. The board characterized the issue as ongoing and emphasized the need for direct county engagement to avoid further delays.
