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Craig residents seek council support to lower Colorado Highway 13 speed limit

Residents near Pineridge Drive hoping to drop speed limit to 45 mph

Joe Moylan

In other action...

At its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, the Craig City Council:

• Hosted a workshop with local government liaisons from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

• Approved, 7-0, the renewal of a tavern liquor license for JW Snack’s Gulf Coast Bar & BBQ.

• Discussed bid for a commercial pool heater for the wave pool.

• Approved, 7-0, a two-year extension to the Bresnan Communications (Optimum) franchise agreement, extending the agreement expiration from 2014 to 2016.

• Approved, 7-0, second reading of Ordinance Number 1021 to adopt the 2013 City of Craig budget.

• Approved, 7-0, second reading of Ordinance Number 1023 amending section 9.30.030 of the Craig Municipal Code concerning possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

• Approved, 7-0, second reading of Ordinance Number 1024 amending sections 13.48.010 and 13.16.010 of the Craig Municipal Code to increase water and wastewater rates to provide sufficient revenues to maintain the balance of the water and wastewater enterprise funds.

• Heard October financial report.

• Heard water and wastewater monthly reports.

In other action…

At its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, the Craig City Council:

• Hosted a workshop with local government liaisons from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

• Approved, 7-0, the renewal of a tavern liquor license for JW Snack’s Gulf Coast Bar & BBQ.



• Discussed bid for a commercial pool heater for the wave pool.

• Approved, 7-0, a two-year extension to the Bresnan Communications (Optimum) franchise agreement, extending the agreement expiration from 2014 to 2016.



• Approved, 7-0, second reading of Ordinance Number 1021 to adopt the 2013 City of Craig budget.

• Approved, 7-0, second reading of Ordinance Number 1023 amending section 9.30.030 of the Craig Municipal Code concerning possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

• Approved, 7-0, second reading of Ordinance Number 1024 amending sections 13.48.010 and 13.16.010 of the Craig Municipal Code to increase water and wastewater rates to provide sufficient revenues to maintain the balance of the water and wastewater enterprise funds.

• Heard October financial report.

• Heard water and wastewater monthly reports.

In an effort to create a safer driving environment a group of local residents is petitioning to lower the speed limit at one intersection in Craig.

The intersection in question is at Colorado Highway 13 and Pineridge Drive, on the stretch of Highway 13 that connects Craig to Hamilton.

Currently the speed limit for southbound traffic at the Pineridge Drive intersection is 65 mph. Northbound traffic at that same intersection is 55 mph.

On Wednesday the Pineridge Homeowners Association submitted the petition to the City of Craig, which is signed by all 50 residents of the Pineridge subdivision.

The petition cites the dangers the high rate of speed poses to residents trying to enter and exit the subdivision.

On Tuesday Ron Schnackenberg, president of the Pineridge Homeowners Association, appeared before the Craig City Council seeking unanimous approval of the petition as well as a letter of support.

If approved by council, Schnackenberg said the letter would be added to a packet he plans to submit to CDOT that could also contain letters of support from Craig Police Chief Walt Vanatta, the Moffat County Commission, Moffat County Sheriff Tim Jantz and the Colorado State Patrol.

“I want to show (CDOT) absolute, overwhelming and complete support for the reduction of the speed limit at this intersection,” Schnackenberg said. “I want to be able to emphasize this is a low-cost, commonsense solution that greatly reduces the danger at that intersection.”

In addition to citing the dangers the current speed poses to residents, Schnackenberg said the solution comes down to relocating two highway signs.

One near mile marker 88, which raises the speed limit from 45 mph to 65 mph in the southbound lane, would only need to be moved a couple hundred yards to the south of the intersection, the petition states.

The same could be done on the northbound side of the highway, Schnackenberg said.

The petition and the letter of support were approved, 7-0, by council.

“I totally support it,” said council member Gene Bilodeau. “I think it’s a great idea and if your neighbors to the east at the college can write a letter of support, please feel free to ask.”

Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com


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