Superintendent Beth Geese urges daytime no-parking near elementary after new apartments add students

Miss Beth Geese, superintendent of the Cass and Manville schools, told the Kasson City Council she supports affordable housing but is concerned for student safety after a new apartment complex brought “eight new kids that registered last by last Thursday.” She described narrow curb space and said school buses cannot safely swing past parked cars.

Geese said buses swing in from 16th Street and the buses’ rear ends require clear turning room; construction vehicles and street parking currently illustrate the hazard. She asked the council to consider a daytime no-parking restriction in the area immediately adjacent to the elementary school and offered to split the cost for yellow curb paint to mark the restriction.

Transportation director Jake Schmidt and councilors discussed practical enforcement and timing. Councilors noted the city already uses a 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. no-parking sign on 16th Street and asked whether the same restriction could be applied to the highlighted block. Staff said towing and police ticketing are available and that the school resource officer typically responds quickly when on campus, though towing is not instantaneous.

A councilor moved to recommend the 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. no-parking restriction to the city council; another seconded the motion and it passed by voice vote. The recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for final action.

The meeting record shows the council and school district want to avoid disadvantaging the apartment owner while prioritizing student safety; councilors asked staff to consider signs and curb marking before the building opens and to return with implementation details to accompany the recommendation.