On Tuesday, July 15, I appeared before the Cook County Board of Commissioners, as the representative of the 200 families (390+ signatures) who have petitioned to have rumble strips removed from Highway 61 in Cook County. We requested that the board support a letter to our elected representatives in the St. Paul Legislature.
In this letter, we asked our elected officials for help in removing the rumble strips from our county. We asked that there be some “oversight” of MnDOT’s policies, procedures and processes with respect to the related issues of “categorical exceptions to study/ public hearings. ” We asked that MnDOT answer the question, “Are rumble strips the best and most economical response to accidents and deaths resulting from collisions occurring when vehicles cross over the center line?”
Our commissioners, some of whom thought the rumble strips were going to be removed by MnDOT, requested a delay in sending the letter to our elected officials, so that they could again meet with MnDOT, to address these issues. I agreed with our commissioners to continue their process and not send the letter at this time.
Our commissioners believe that rumble strips can be removed from Cook County, and hope to do so without damaging good relations with MnDOT and our elected officials. This is my hope also.
Charles Flickinger
Hovland
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