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Decorah will test a one‑stop sign at Court & Water after signal cabinet damage
Summary
Following damage to a traffic cabinet, the council authorized installing a stop sign on Court Street (at Water) as a low‑cost test and to avoid immediate repair costs, with monitoring during the summer construction season.
After a truck struck the traffic‑signal cabinet at Court and Water streets and a nearby signal pole failed in high winds, the Decorah City Council voted March 16 to convert the Court‑Street approach to a stop‑sign control on a trial basis.
Staff described the damaged cabinet as likely requiring $12,000–$20,000 in repairs and noted the aged controller may reveal additional faults once disassembled. Council weighed the cost of repair, electrical and maintenance savings, and the operational effects of replacing a signal with a stop sign during a season when the city expects extra traffic because of other road closures. City engineer John and staff reviewed traffic volumes and advised that a single stop sign on Court would likely not create untenable queues and could be tested and adjusted.
Councilmember Chisel moved to install a stop sign on Court Street and run a trial; the motion carried unanimously. Council asked staff to monitor queueing, work with police and public works on visibility and signage, and be prepared to revert or expand stop‑sign controls depending on observed traffic patterns during the summer construction period.
