INFORMATION #1 07-27-1998JUL 1~ '1998
INFORMATION
TAD$ON 'r c.
18936 YORK STREET N.W. · ELK RIVER, MN 55330 · (612) 441-4410 · FAX (612) 241-4896
July 16, 1998
CITY OF ELK RIVER
P. O. BOX 490
Elk River, Mn. 55330
Attention: Mayor Hank Duitsman and Members of the City Council
Subject: Speed Limits In Elk River
Gentlemen;
It is becoming more and more apparent that speed limits in our
city need to be adjusted lower!
I live in Heritage Landing at 13328 179½ Avenue and do a lot
of walking around our neighborhood. Thanks to the City of Elk
River, there are many good walking paths, but it is also
necessary to walk along the sides of some streets as well.
While the speed limit is 30 MPH for the most part; Mississippi
Road becomes a 55 MPH rate at Gary Street and becomes an excit-
ing thOroughfare on which the speed limit is regularly exceeded.
Another exciting experience is that of entering highway 10 at
Joplin Avenue. Even though there is a semaphore at that corner,
when one enters the highway from a "yield" entry, the traffic
coming from the West is going at rates exceeding 60 MPH.
I realize I am approaching retirement and being "older" makes
me more sensitive to high speed hazards, but there has been
so much expansion in our city that I feel we need to have
concern for lots of small children, walking, riding bikes as
well as folks as old as me!
Please give this matter your careful consideration!
Sing~f~ ~ly, /,?
Tom Droegemue~/~r
Police Department
Thomas D. Zerwas
Chief of Police
July 20, 1998
Tom Droegemueller
Tadson Inc.
18936 York Street NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Mr. Droegemueller:
I have received your letter addressing your concerns about speeding in the City
of Elk River. I want to assure you that the City is just as concerned with
speeding vehicles and wish to convey what steps are being taken to address
these concerns.
Mississippi Road will soon see a reduced speed limit all the way to the western
city border. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has completed their
studies and we expect the amended signs to go up very soon. The new limits
accompanied by strict enforcement should address your concerns in that area.
Highway 10 at Joplin, as well as most sections of highway in Elk River, are
frequent areas of complaints regarding excessive speeds. The recent change to
the 65-mph zones outside the metro area has had a tremendous impact, on our
55-mph zones. We have directed our officers to work increased speed
enforcement on all sections of highway, and the number of citations issued this
year to date is the highest total in department history.
We have to balance our spccd enforcement with residential and business patrol,
and unfortunately, with 44 square miles and only three squads on, there is not
always enough time to cover each area as well as we would like.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 723 · Elk River, Minnesota 55330 · (612) 441-2324 · Fax (612) 441-8937
! hope the spccd limit change accompanied by our increased enforcement
addresses your concerns. !f you have further questions contact me at our office
at any time.
Sincerely,
Assistant Police Chief