September 8, 2023 |
Photo – Aerial view of intersection of Constitution Ave and South River Street – Courtesy Town of Saratoga
The Town of Saratoga will create a four-way stop intersection by the new Valley Village Childcare building.
At Tuesday’s town council meeting, Police Chief Mike Morris said he was approached by Valley Village Board of Directors Vice Chairperson Ellie Dana to address safety concerns over the nearby intersection. Chief Morris said the area where Constitution Avenue and South River Street meet can get very busy. Kathy Glode Parks sits on the southeast side of the intersection and the Saratoga Museum’s pavilion is on the northwest. Chief Morris said because children from the daycare will be nearby, a four-way stop combined with a crosswalk was needed.
The Platte Valley Clinic occupied the future site of the Valley Village Childcare, called the Corbett Medical Building. The Platte Valley Clinic moved from the Corbett Medical Building into the North Platte Valley Medical Center after it opened in May.
Ellie Dana and the Valley Village Childcare board requested to use the Corbett Building after the clinic left. The Corbett Medical Building was given to Saratoga to be used for the good of residents. The town acted as landlord while the Platte Valley Clinic occupied the building.
When Valley Village staff examined the structure, they found it needed around $100,000 worth of repairs and modifications to bring the building up to code. Dana offered to pay for the required upgrades if the town would sell the building to the daycare. In February of this year, the Saratoga town council agreed to sell the Ray A. Corbett Medical Building to Valley Village Childcare for $1.
The building is undergoing the extensive remodeling needed for the daycare and Excel Preschool to move in. When the facility opens next year, the area will see an increased number of small children around the building. Speaking at Tuesday’s Saratoga town council meeting, Chief Morris said the four-way stop and crosswalks would increase safety near the daycare and preschool.
Saratoga Public Works Director Emery Penner said installing two stop signs and painting the crosswalks would require about $600 in material. Penner said the money is available in the streets department’s budget.
Chief Morris said he recommends that the town move forward with the project.
Mayor Chuck Davis said because of the increased traffic from the Saratoga Farmers Market each summer, the intersection needs additional safety measures.
Mayor Davis called for a motion to approve the installation of two additional stop signs and a painted crosswalk at the intersection of Constitution Avenue and South River Street. The motion passed unanimously. No timeline on when the additional stop signs will be installed was given.
