Cass County votes to add flashing beacons and extra signs at Hoburn/McGregor intersection after fatal crash

The Cass County Board of Supervisors voted 4to1 to install solar flashing red beacons for northsouth traffic, amber warning lights for eastwest approaches, and additional warning signage on the opposite sides of the roadway at the Hoburn (90th Avenue) and McGregor (210th Street) intersection after a recent fatal crash.

County Engineer Doug (addressing the board) described steps his office had already taken and recommended additional devices: replacing existing signs with diamond-grade reflectivity, placing vertical striping on posts, and installing solar flashing beacons mounted at the stop signs. Doug said the solar beacons being considered cost roughly $2,500 apiece and are commonly used in other Iowa counties, and he raised the limits of what signage can achieve when drivers ignore traffic controls: "There's still enforcement, education, the emergency portion of it," he said, urging a mix of countermeasures.

Board members debated several options, including adding an extra sign on the opposite side of the road to increase visibility, using a radar speed display to collect data, deploying cameras, and increasing patrols or enforcement. Some supervisors urged a cautious, prioritized approach—install what can be delivered quickly and then reassess—while others pushed to act more broadly because the county's crash data shows several intersection hot spots.

The motion that passed directed the engineer to order and install: red flashing beacons for northsouth approaches on 90th Avenue, amber flashing warning lights on the intersection warning signs for eastwest traffic on 210th Street (McGregor), and duplicate warning signs on the opposite side of the roadway for northsouth traffic. The board asked staff to bring an update to the agenda in two months to evaluate changes and any additional needs.

County staff noted practical details: the vendor lead time for ordered equipment is roughly 3060 days; the devices are solar with batteries and have a long maintenance history in peer counties though they require occasional repairs and replacement if struck. A board member said a camera option might be in the $7,000 range and could be considered later if needed.

The board's action is limited to county-owned roadways and signs; state rights-of-way and state highway improvements remain under Iowa DOT authority. The engineer said the crash investigation remains open; the newly ordered signage and beacons are intended as engineering countermeasures to reduce the risk of further run-the-stop incidents.