City To Create Four Way Stop at Dangerous Intersection

A four way stop will soon be created at a dangerous intersection near the public square downtown.
During Monday nights city council meeting, the Smithville Aldermen voted five to nothing to create a four way stop at the intersection of Webb Street and South Third Street. Signs will soon be posted alerting motorists. This intersection is located across from the dentist office, just south of Hilton Conger’s law office, and near the Real Life Community Church.
Alderman Shawn Jacobs raised the issue in March, saying many people have become concerned about public safety at that intersection. After doing some research, Lieutenant Steven Leffew discovered that several traffic accidents have occurred there in recent years. A state consultant was contacted and gave the city a couple of options to consider.
On Monday night, Alderman Jacobs, reading from Lieutenant Leffew’s letter to him regarding the state consultant’s evaluation, said there were basically two options. “There are not a lot of options from the state consultant. Option one is to hire a consultant as to the feasibility of lights, property removal, or other methods, the costs of which would be incurred by the city. The second option is to make the intersection a four way stop with appropriate signs stating that the intersection is an “all ways stop”. This option would also include four painted white lines known as “stop bars”. These painted lines would be two feet wide and begin at the edge of the pavement of the center of the street. Each “stop bar’s” location would be marked approximately six feet back from the intersection. State code requires a minimum of four feet.”
After a brief discussion, Alderman Jacobs made a motion that a four way stop be created at the intersection. Alderman Steve White offered a second to the motion. Aldermen Aaron Meeks, W.J. (Dub) White, and Cecil Burger all voted for the motion.
Mayor Taft Hendrixson agreed with the board’s action saying “it was a good decision.”