Union Township adopts ordinance to control overcrowding, parking at Lincoln Road Bridge

• Tweet
• 

An ordinance for a uniform traffic code adoption passed by a 6-1 vote at Wednesday’s Union Township meeting.

The ordinance deals with issues such as tubers at the Lincoln Road Bridge, as well as other future situations with the potential to get out of control.

“The tubing problem is what brought this issue up,” said Township Zoning Administrator Woody Woodruff. “I don’t think anyone would disagree there is a problem that needs to be addressed.”

The state police issued an engineering survey which concluded that stopping, standing or parking on the road is dangerous to people and interferes with traffic flow.

There will not be any stopping, standing or parking within 400 feet north or south of the right-of-way of Lincoln Road. The county will be enforcing the code.

Mike Anderson, owner of Chippewa River Outfitters, said he is worried how the ordinance will affect his business since customers follow the trail from the river to his canoe livery, so they don’t have to wait to be picked up or dropped off.

“Because we have the authority to set our own traffic control order, we can issue special parking permits for the canoe liveries in town,” Woodruff said. “We want to allow Chippewa River Outfitters to continue their business. They do valuable services for our area (and have) for a number of years.”

The township also discussed the possibility of hiring an engineer at the cost of $5,000 to study and analyze data, said Township Manager Brian Smith.

Smith said if they do not 100-percent need a manager, they will not hire one.

Other Business

The township will have two meetings to discuss the possibility of establishing a dog park.

The first will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 29 at 306 S. University St. for city and township officials. The second is an open public forum for residents at 7 p.m. on Oct. 4.

“It’s in the formative stages,” said Trustee John Dinse. “It’s part of an informal group of people partnered with the Humane Animal Treatment Society. We’re just trying to spread the word amongst the community.”