McMinnville officials are considering a written request for stop signs at the intersection of DeKalb and Grundy streets and warning signs alerting motorists to the presence of children.

Tisha Hunter has expressed safety concerns to Board of Mayor and Aldermen members. 

“The corner of DeKalb and Grundy Street currently has two stop signs running along DeKalb Street,” said Hunter. “There is very heavy traffic at times at very high rates of speed.”

Specifically, she’s asked for two more stop signs to make a four-way stop.

“I have already spoken to neighbors about the signs and they also expressed concerns for the safety of their children and would be happy to see the signs go up … in addition to Slow Children at Play Signs,” said Hunter. “This is a neighborhood with lots of children playing and riding bikes, people going for walks, walking their dogs, etc., as well as my own grandchildren the ages 1, 2 and 3. Please help keep them safe.” 

Mayor Ben Newman read a portion of the request aloud.

“Is Ms. Hunter here? Has she spoken with anybody about this?” Newman asked.

McMinnville Public Works Department director Frank Southard responded, “She spoke to me about it. She asked me what she needed to do. I told her that she probably needs to take it before the board. I don’t know of any accidents that have ever happened there.” 

His department is charged with road sign placement.

“We could put up Slow Children at Play Signs,” said Southard. 

Police Chief Bryan Denton said the data he gathered from placement of the speed trailer did not support allegations that motorists are speeding but that the visual presence of a speed trailer may have slowed motorists down. 

“She’s contacted us a couple of times,” said Denton. “There’s really not a lot of data to back that up, honestly. To her point, the equipment we have used would be visible. It’s difficult to be covert with it in a place like that. We are looking at some new technology that would be more covert that may get more accurate data. There have been no accidents in that area over the last year and, I suspect, over the last several years.”

Board members expressed a desire to hear from Hunter before making a decision. They took no action, other than to send the request to the city’s Streets and Sanitation Committee for consideration. Hunter’s attendance will be requested.