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Speed limits, yield to pedestrians, safety near ballparks at issue
As the summer tourism season ramps up, along with baseball and softball seasons moving into full swing, safety was on the minds of Ely city officials on Tuesday.
A brief city council meeting included a public call for bringing vehicle speeds down and raising awareness about youth activities near Whiteside Park and the Little League field.
“Slow down, look both ways,” cautioned mayor Heidi Omerza.
Omerza’s remark came after words of caution from police chief Chad Houde, who said his officers have fielded complaints about speeding on both Sheridan Street and Central Avenue.
“Just a friendly reminder that it’s going to get busy this weekend which is good,” said Houde. “With the fishing opener there’s an increase in traffic.”
Houde said it’s time to remind the motorists that speed limits on both Sheridan and Central are 30 miles per hour.
“It’s not coasting into town at 45 or 50,” said Houde.
Houde also noted that the east exit of Ely toward Winton, the speed limit is 50 miles per hour.
“So slow down,” said Houde, who noted that more and more visitors are coming into town to frequent local businesses.
Along the same line, Houde also pointed out laws regarding yielding to pedestrians.
“At intersections make sure you yield to pedestrians,” said Houde. “A lot of people are under the assumption there has to be a crosswalk but that’s not the case. Even if the lines are not there, slow down and yield to pedestrians.”
The Little League baseball season started in Ely with practices on Monday, and at times over the next two-to-three months there will be activities at the Little League field, high school softball field, Veterans Memorial Field and Whiteside Park.
At times Monday afternoon, there were events going on in all four locations and the Little League season, which runs into early-July, brings barricades on Harvey Street from Seventh Avenue to Eighth Avenue East.
Houde noted that some safety issues have arisen over motorists entering the school parking lot, via the do not enter area on Harvey, in an effort to avoid the barricades and cut through to get to Veterans Memorial Field or elsewhere.
“Where we’re having issues is a lot of people want to go through that do not enter and through the parking lot,” said Houde. “Be aware of that. It’s definitely safer to take the longer way.”
Last week, city officials ended calendar parking for the season but Houde said police interns will start on the job later this month, bringing ramped up enforcement of the two-hour parking limits downtown.
“Just as one goes away we start enforcing the next one,” said Houde.
In a related matter Tuesday, council members approved the hire of new police officer Charles Petersen, pending completion of background checks and psychological testing.
He was chosen from a field of 19 applicants.
“That’s 18 more (applicants) than the last time we hired,” said Houde.
Houde attributed the increase to Ely’s recently adopted police hiring incentive, which gives officers a free canoe and related gear.
“I want to thank you guys for the canoe incentive,” said Houde. “It got a lot of people to apply and during interviews a lot of the applicants mentioned it. It did its job in that respect and we are hoping now it does at the tail end and keeps officers here.”
