Resident warns a fatal crash is 'when and not if' at High and Chestnut intersection; mayor says improvements planned

At the public-comment period of the Dec. 1 council meeting, Amanda Everitt of 201 S. High St. urged the council to address repeated crashes at the High and Chestnut intersection, saying crews are cleaning car parts from the corner multiple times a month and warning that a fatality is a matter of "when and not if." Her comment cited a crash the previous night involving an elderly driver who was not aware the intersection was not a four-way stop.

Later in unfinished business Council member Mr. Schoonover raised the intersection again, recounting a recent near collision of his own. Mayor McDaniel acknowledged the persistent problem, explained that its hill location complicates solutions because buses and trucks must be able to stop safely in winter, and said the administration has a plan to dramatically improve the intersection. He also noted that police crash statistics do not show a critical need, but said real-world observation demonstrates urgency and that the administration intends to pursue improvements, potentially waiting until the end of the school semester to alter traffic flows.

No formal action to change the intersection was recorded at the meeting; the Mayor said an administrative plan will be submitted when timing is appropriate.