Resident raises school-traffic concerns on Poplar Street; city says it has applied for grant

Resident Yvonne Kaeser told the Highland City Council on Monday that heavy school traffic will make Poplar Street difficult to use when classes resume in September. "If you want to get out on Poplar Street, you cannot, with all the school traffic," Kaeser said during public comment.

City Manager Chris Conrad responded that brief, concentrated peak periods at arrival and dismissal are expected. "There is always going to be a lot of volume for 20–25 minutes in the morning and afternoon," Conrad said, adding that the city has submitted a grant application to fund physical improvements. "The city has put in for a grant to allow improvements to Poplar Street, with adding curb and gutter to the street and the addition of a center turn lane to improve traffic flow. We cannot do anything about volume. We hope to know something later this year. We will then begin construction as soon as we can," he said.

Kaeser also raised a drainage concern on 27th Street, saying a dip there is becoming more like a ditch because of runoff. Conrad asked Director Gillespie to investigate that drainage issue.

The council did not set a construction schedule at Monday's meeting; the city manager described the next steps as waiting for the grant decision and beginning work once funding and design are in place.