Effort to improve safety underway, at Tri County Public Schools

BEATRICE – The Gage County Board has voted to formally support a reduction in traffic speed near Tri County Public Schools and help commit funding to install speed control lighting on Nebraska Highway 103.

The supervisors voted to send a letter of support to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, and commit up to $15,000 toward the project, estimated to cost a total of about $60,000.

County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann said Tri County Superintendent Randy Schlueter spoke to officials about a plan aimed at reducing traffic speed near the school....installing a lighting system that would cut traffic speed from 65 to 45 miles-per-hour, just before school and during dismissal.

In late June of this year, two people died following an accident at the intersection of 725 Road and Nebraska Highway 103 near Tri County School. The collision happened during a morning of dense fog. The victims were ages 51 and 16.

The financial commitment by Gage County would cover up to one-fourth of the expense, with a similar request being made to Jefferson County officials. The allocation of Gage County funding passed on a 6-1 vote this week, with Board member Don Schuller objecting. Schuller felt the state should pay the entire cost, since it involves a state highway.

The county’s share, according to its road and bridge committee chairman, would likely come out of the county’s road department budget.