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Resident urges board not to install median at Deerview Acres on County Road 17
Summary
A Deerview Acres resident told the Scott County Board that a planned median and lane reductions on County Road 17 would block left turns and limit emergency access; he asked commissioners to visit the site before finalizing the reconstruction plan.
A Deerview Acres resident urged the Scott County Board of Commissioners on May 6 to remove plans for a grass or concrete median on County Road 17 in front of his neighborhood, saying the design would prevent left turns and hamper emergency response.
Neil Johnson, who identified himself as a resident at 2146 Norton Drive in Deerview Acres, told the board the reconstruction plan will allow residents to turn right onto County Road 17 but would block left turns both when leaving and returning to the neighborhood. “Don't put a grass or cement median in front of Deerview Acres,” Johnson said. He described incidents where drivers towing trailers had to use shoulders to turn and recalled a nearby fire that required tanker trucks to refill off-site.
Johnson said residents had understood the project would be a four-lane cross section but that the proposal before the county shows one travel lane in each direction and physical medians at some locations. He recommended commissioners observe driveway and driveway-access patterns at different times of day, offering to provide coffee or water during such a site visit.
Why it matters: Johnson and other speakers at the project's open house have raised access and emergency-response concerns that would affect daily travel and first-responder operations if the design restricts left turns or cannot be safely negotiated by larger vehicles.
County staff have not yet finalized permanent striping or median details. At the meeting county staff acknowledged the open-house discussions and indicated further conversations and design review are expected as the project moves forward.
Discussion vs. decision: This public comment was part of the “recognition of interested citizens” period and raised issues for the county to consider. No formal board action on the County Road 17 design was taken at the May 6 meeting.
Next steps: County staff and the board will continue design and public outreach; Johnson requested a site visit by one or more commissioners so board members can see turning and queuing conditions firsthand.
