Residents urge county to oppose YDOT concrete medians; commissioners decline to sign formal objection

Dozens of residents and business owners told the Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners they oppose proposed concrete center medians on Brundage Lane, Coffeen Avenue and Center Lane, saying the design would hinder deliveries, emergency access, snow removal and pedestrian safety. "The average annual daily vehicle that are traveling on those corridors is 12,777," resident and business owner Carla Cayley said while citing figures from the Stantec report and arguing the corridor is below the 24,000 threshold YDOT uses to consider concrete medians.

Local business owners described access problems for semitrailers and customers, and raised the prospect of diverted traffic past a school and a retirement home. Derek Hall, a business owner, warned medians would not improve pedestrian access and could increase risky crossings. "Those medians do not address any pedestrian access concerns, and I would argue you're going to make for more of the interest interactions," he said. Commissioners debated the county's authority to object, snow removal logistics, and delivery impacts. After a motion and second to authorize the chair to sign a formal objection letter, the voice vote produced equal aye/oppose responses and the motion failed. The board said it expects YDOT to hold a public meeting with final designs.