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Supervisors direct plan for flashing lights, other upgrades after deadly crash at 210th and 90th
Summary
After a recent fatal crash, the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors heard data showing a recurring, severe crash pattern at 210th Street and 90th Avenue and directed the county engineer to deliver a costed plan for near-term safety upgrades — including higher stop signs, LED edging or flashing stop signs — at the intersection.
Kossuth County supervisors on Tuesday instructed county staff to develop a concrete, costed plan for safety upgrades at the McGregor/Hobart intersection (210th Street & 90th Avenue) after presentations showed a pattern of repeat, high-severity crashes there.
The move followed a public comment from resident William Bradford, who described regular rolling through the stop sign and recounted a recent collision that killed a local woman. "Somebody lost a daughter, sister, mom," Bradford said during public discussion, urging stronger measures than existing signage. County EMS and road staff reviewed crash data compiled from the Iowa Crash Analysis Tool and DOT guidance showing the intersection as an outlier in both frequency and severity.
An EMS analyst who led the county's review told the board the compiled dataset included 49 intersection-related incidents from 2018 to the present, and the southbound stop-control movement accounted for a disproportionate share of severe outcomes. "The analysis indicates the southbound stop sign violations are the primary contributor to crash risk at 210 and 90th Avenue," the analyst said.
County Engineer Doug presented statewide fatality trends and urged action. "How many of your own family members are allowed to be killed on Iowa roads? That number is 0," he said, framing the board's discussion as a public-safety imperative.
Supervisors debated a range of engineering and enforcement options — taller or retroreflective stop signs, LED rings around stop signs, flashing beacons, rumble strips and targeted enforcement or cameras. The board heard the state DOT typically recommends flashing stop signs for similar sites but noted county jurisdiction and funding constraints. Several supervisors urged initial, low-cost measures while a more complete engineering study is prepared.
Chair Chuck White said the board expected an actionable plan quickly: the engineer was directed to return next week with a menu of options, estimated costs, and recommended next steps for immediate and medium-term interventions. The board did not yet vote to fund specific equipment at this meeting.
The next steps: the county engineer will prepare designs and a cost breakdown for lighting and sign upgrades, report on grant or cost-share possibilities, and present recommendations to the board at its next meeting.
