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Police chief urges four‑way stops near Snowflake High; council approves signs and markings
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Summary
Snowflake council approved installing new four‑way stops near the high school and pursuing school crossing signs and crosswalk markings after Police Chief Martin recommended added controls to address growing traffic. The measure passed unanimously after discussion about safety versus convenience.
The Town of Snowflake Council voted April 5 to approve a plan to add four‑way stop controls and to install school crossing signs and crosswalk markings near Snowflake High School after a presentation from Police Chief Martin.
Chief Martin told the council that, because of heavy school traffic, four‑way stops would be advisable at 4th W and 1st S and at 3rd W and 1st S, and that 1st W and 1st S is also a concern. He recommended trying school crossing signs and marked crosswalks as an initial step while continuing to study longer‑term traffic control. "We have to look at what we can control," Chief Martin said, adding that staff cannot assign an officer to patrol every block.
Councilmembers raised concerns about convenience for residents. Councilmember Cory Johnson asked whether the town had seen more accidents in the proposed areas; Chief Martin said no, but said traffic controls are needed to manage expected growth. Mayor Lynn Johnson and others emphasized safety. Resident Sam Flake, who spoke during the discussion, said many drivers "fly down 4th W" and that he preferred measures that slowed drivers and increased neighborhood safety.
The council moved to approve the proposed stop signs as presented; the motion, made by Councilmember Allison Perkins and seconded by Mayor Lynn Johnson, passed unanimously. The council and staff discussed next steps including painting intersection corners (staff noted they will paint curb corners red where appropriate) and preparing community education about four‑way stops for town social media as an outreach step.
The approved measures are intended to be phased: signage and markings as near‑term steps and additional stop signs evaluated as traffic patterns evolve.