In a special meeting this week, the Black River Falls Common Council spent much of its time discussing traffic and pedestrian safety in the downtown area.
Council members reviewed the possibility of lowering the speed limit on Main Street but stopped short of taking action. State law allows communities to change speed limits, but a traffic study would be required. The Council expressed concerns of such a study’s costs and questioned whether a lower speed limit would improve safety. There was consensus to explore adding another speed radar sign on Main Street and placing portable pedestrian crossing signs on North Water Street.
The Common Council also discussed regulations for e-bikes and e-scooters on the Foundation Trail and downtown sidewalks. Members agreed posting additional signs downtown would likely be ineffective and instead will consider painting the 15-mile-per-hour speed limit on trail pavement at access points.
In other business, the council approved spending up to $7,500 from TID funds to purchase up to three Historic Downtown District signs.
The Parks and Recreation Department said repairs to the Aquatic Center’s tube slide were completed with dollars from the Black River Falls Area Foundation’s Hoffman Aquatic Center Maintenance Fund and noted $20,000 in donations for Festival in the Park. The Fire Department announced that EMT Jessica Osgood has passed her paramedic certification exam, allowing the city to have three full-time paramedics.