Chairperson Tammy Chell called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present were:
Dennis Johnson-DOT-BOTS, Bob Morehouse-Burnett County Highway Commissioner, Greg Mattson-Wisconsin DOT District 8, Trooper Patrick Kraetke-State Patrol, Siren Village Chief Chris Sybers and Grantsburg Village Chief Jeff Schinzing.

Minutes from the February meeting were approved as written on a motion by Bob and second by Dennis. Motion made and carried.

Discussion was held on the ATV use in Swiss Township. The township is looking into an ordinance that would allow ATV's to operate from Trail 8 to State Highway 35/77 on Lake 26 Road. The ordinance will also allow ATV's from Lake 26 Road to State Highway 77 along State Highway 35/77, and from the Gandy Dancer Trail to State Highway 35/77 along State Highway 77. The last two areas would have to be approved by DOT, which the Town of Swiss will be working on. There will be an update at the August meeting.

Discussion was held on the signing for the highways as in June the Spooner Department will be done doing this. Bob said Burnett County will not being doing the signing, but will fix them up until someone from the State get to them.

Chief Sybers reported that the bike safety class that was scheduled in April was cancelled. Dennis will get some information on helmets to Chief Sybers.

The entrance into Subway and the Theater was discussed. This would be an entrance only coming off of Highway 35, if it should get approved.

Crosswalks have been approved from the Vets Office on Highway 35, they can now be painted. Chief Sybers stated that he hasn't heard anything on the crosswalks by the Lodge going to the park. Chief Sybers asked Greg if the solar flashing had been approved and Greg informed him not as of yet on the State system but local roads can have them.
Bob stated that he will pick up some information on this at his Highway meeting in June.

Chief Schinzing asked about the message boards and Bob stated that we did not get the free ones thru the Homeland Security Grant, discussion held.

Chief Schinzing and Chief Sybers have set up a Click It or Ticket Campaign to be held at the County Schools. This will be done in the mornings when the parents are dropping off their children and when the high school drivers are arriving for classes. There will be check points set up and rewards for buckling up will be given out to those wearing their seat belts and information handed out to those not. A report will be given at the next meeting reference how each school district did with buckling up.

Dennis reported that as of the 16th there were 242 fatal crashes to 238 in 2004, with the five year average being 243.

Dennis gave some of the legislative reports, discussion held;

AB 43 - This leaves the 8 year license intact, but shortens the re-test cycle for a older person(i.e. requires a vision test every 3 years beginning at 75, and a vision and knowledge test every 2 years beginning at 80 years.

AB70 - Car seat violations - $25.00 fine to violators not complying with having children in car seats. This fund will be for a statewide car seat give away program for low income families, and creates a tiered structure for child safety restraint use according to age and size, for transporting children under the age of eight in a motor vehicle.
AB76 - Prohibits a person operating under a probationary license or an instruction permit for a motor vehicle from using a cell phone or wireless telecommunications device (hand held or passive), except to report an emergency. $20-$40 surcharge for first offense and $50-$100 for subsequent offense within a year.

AB98 - Requires headlights and other required lamps on vehicles to be lighted when the visibility is limited by inclement weather.

AB215 - Authorize a law enforcement officer to stop or inspect a vehicle solely to determine compliance with safety belt use requirements. Surcharge being $10-$25.00 first offense and $50 to $75.00 for subsequent offenses.

AB141 - Lowers the minimum drinking age fro 21 to 19 for military personnel on active duty but only if doing so would not jeopardize Wisconsin from receiving federal transportation funding (via waiver of current, minimum drinking age mandate or via a pilot program).

Discussion on people not properly having the child restraint seats hooked properly in their vehicles and the dangers of not doing so.

Bob reported that they have not been able to mow the ditches due to the lupine butterflies being protected. This causes problems with visibility and hard to see when something comes out of the long grass, such as deer.

Dennis reported the laws of the month and handed out the Wisconsin construction maps which are also updated every Friday on the website:

April Law of the Month: Absolute Sobriety

May Law of the Month: Mid-Block turns

Greg discussed the 35/70 intersection north; there were 19 crashes in a three year study. There recently was a four hour vehicle count done at this location and it showed that 2,842 vehicles passed thru during that time. This was a week day count, showing that there is a high volume of traffic at this area and more on the week-ends. It was discussed that when the intersection was constructed there could have been other ways to set it up which may have made it a safer intersection. Stop lights were discussed but at this time it is believed due to the airport landing that this is not a feasible option, but will be checked into again. Two big problems are the speeds in this area and failure to stop at the median. There was discussion on another lane being put in, with extending the lane going east, repainting the lines, the issue of semi's with the longer trailers crossing the intersection sticking out in the other north and south bound lanes as the median is to short. Greg will be checking into these issues at the intersection further and if anything could be done to correct these.

It was asked that the Officers indicate on the accident reports when damage has been done to state signs, guard rails etc. so they can get payment for the damages done. They can also put the damage tags on the items damaged for the State workers.

Next meeting will be August 23, 2005 @ 1:30 p.m.

Motion by Bob and seconded by Jeff to adjourn at 3:15 p.m., motion made and carried.

Tammy Chell
Highway Safety Coordinator