Smithville Police to begin Directing Traffic in School Zone at Northside Elementary

A Smithville Police Officer will again be directing traffic in the school zone at Northside Elementary beginning Thursday morning (September 17th)
Police Chief Richard Jennings phoned WJLE Wednesday afternoon to say that an on-duty road officer will be assigned to direct traffic each morning and afternoon in the Northside Elementary School zone in the interest of public safety. Jennings says he is making this decision himself, in his authority as Chief of Police.
The issue surfaced last month at a city council meeting and it was discussed again during a workshop Monday night.
A plan has been proposed between officials of the city and school system to address the problem without someone directing traffic, but Alderman Shawn Jacobs says many parents are not pleased with that.
The mayor and aldermen are expected to discuss it again Monday night during the regular city council meeting, but Chief Jennings says he will go ahead and start the service now.
Chief Jennings says that the police department will continue to have an officer at Northside directing traffic even after the proposal is implemented to extend the school zone, to prohibit parking on the shoulder of Highway 56 north, and to route buses entering and exiting the school via Smith Road.
He added that only when all available officers are tied up on other calls, would the service not be provided.