Muskego Public Safety Committee Tackles Traffic Concerns and Ski Ramp

The Muskego Public Safety Committee met Wednesday night, and heard traffic concerns from two neighborhoods.

Paul Green stepped forward on behalf of the Quietwood subdivision, which rests between Janesville Road and Woods Road.  Green said neighbors already feel traffic rushes through the subdivision too fast, and are concerned that Janesville Road construction next year will only make the problem worse.

Green initially asked the committee to allow neighbors there to put up digital signs that would remind motorists of the speed limit (25) and their current speed. The signs would be similar to the ones recently purchased by the city, and cost about $2,500 each. 

Green told the committee, "the residents are willing to pay for their own. At six signs, I don't think any one of us wouldn't be willing to give $15,000 if it could save their child."

The committee said there were problems in handling traffic calming measures like this on their own, and Tracy Snead, chairman, said that human nature being what it was, people would realize there wasn't enforcement behind the signs and would continue to speed.

Ultimately, the committee said they would work closely with the area to rotate the city's signs in that area and as construction neared, would provide more patrols.

The committee is also looking at Wentland Drive, which had a resident requesting a street light be placed as the area is extremely dark and Wentland itself is T-shaped, with one ending at Little Muskego Lake. Alderman Dan Soltysiak brought the request forward from one resident, but said a few others he asked did not want a light. He said he was still trying to hear back from other neighbors.

Pending further review by Muskego Police and the Public Works Department, which may instead place signs and reflectors at either end of the street, the matter was held for the next meeting.

Finally, the Water Bugs ski ramp looks to be staying put, at least for the next year.  Tom Zagar, conservation coordinator, appeared before the committee to confirm Holz Island was an environmentally sensitive area, and would not be a site for the ramp, which has been a sore spot with residents around the lake.  Additionally, the man who recently asked that the ramp be moved from its present spot on Chiconas Island has moved, so the committee felt it should remain there until next year's fall review.