Stop signs to come down from Second Street

With the post office on Second and Grant streets closed, City Councilor Rebecca Grizzle noticed less traffic through the intersection.

She asked the public works department to look at removing the stop signs on Second Street at Grant.

The council approved the idea on Aug. 12.

"That intersection is a virtual ghost town," said Dan Grassick, general manager utility services.

Removing the stop signs has "potential to improve the efficiency and flow" of the intersection, Grassick said.

The stop signs at Grant Street will be changed from "four-way-stop" to "two-way-stop."

For the next two weeks, signs will warn drivers of the change.

Grassick said Lebanon police officials had expressed concern to him about speeding and accidents.

"Traffic will move through slowly at first, but hopefully as people get used to it, it will improve," Grassick said. "Hopefully we'll avoid any collisions."

Council approves downtown sign code

At its Aug. 12 meeting the city council voted to approve new downtown sign regulations.

Councilor Ray Weldon voted no on the ordinance because it made no provisions for electronic reader boards or flashing signs.

No one asked about this type of sign at either public meeting, said Walt Wendolowski, community development manager.

After two public meetings, the planning division made some changes to the old code in accordance with community input.

The changes include:

• Increased allowable footprint and height of A-frame signs.

• The inclusion of pole banner signs.

• Allowances for flags to be displayed on poles attached to the side of a building.

City approves loan for Weirich Drive

The City Council on Aug. 12 approved a proposed loan to the Cheadle Lake Urban Renewal Agency for $125,000 in Weirich Drive road work.

The money is coming out of the city's Wastewater Improvement System Development Charge fund.

The URD has received half of the money and will receive the other half upon completion.

General Manager of Utility Services Dan Grassick said he would send out for bids in September, with expectations for completion before the Strawberry Festival in 2010.

Grassick anticipates the project to cost less than the requested $125,000, and the URD will only borrow as much as needed.

Other agencies contributed to other parts of the Weirich Road project.

"Oregon Department of Transportation Rail has given us $80,000 for the rail crossing - for buying the equipment and getting the power hooked up for the crossing arms," Grassick said Friday.

Lebanon Fire District financially participated via loans to the URD for the sewage lift station, he said.

"We will pay them back for their cost participation in that," he said, adding that the URD has already made a payment this year.

'No Parking' on F Street

At its Aug. 12 meeting, the city council approved restricting parking on "F" Street between Fifth and Seventh streets on school days between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The decision came after requests from the residents of the area.

Dan Grassick, general manager utility services, said the city will revisit the issue in early January to see if it has helped and if it has created other problems.