Conneaut Lake Regional Police Chief Todd Pfeifer expressed concerns about future traffic accidents at, and near, the intersection of Routes 322 and 18.

According to the chief, approximately 90% of incidents currently take place there and, with the addition of Lake View Terrace in the upcoming year, he warned that the situation would only get worse.

The topic of the danger came up during the January Police Commission meeting after Sadsbury Township Supervisor Roy Whaley asked Pfeifer if they should consider reducing the speed limit to 35 from Ellion Road to the intersection.

Pfeifer didn't think that was necessary but did say that the center turn lanes should have designated turn signals. These would have green arrows and red lights only. Evidently, this is the case just east of the Sheetz at the intersection of rt.s 19 & 322.

Pfeifer pointed out that a great deal of the accidents at the 18 and 322 intersection are due to folks not being cautious when executing a turn on the green light. There is a green arrow and a green light and often people meander through during the unprotected green light, and don't pay attention to the oncoming cars.

President of Conneaut Lake Borough Council Richard Holabaugh said that of course Penn DOT would be the go to people for this request.

Pfeifer pointed out that for the past nine years, he has been asking PennDOT for clearer signs and other helpful tools in the area of that intersection. He said he hasn't had any luck thus far but, after a lengthy discussion about the matter, said he would get the ball rolling with another letter to them.

The board indicated that they wanted to get moving prior to the construction of the Lake View Terrace development. Both the board and Pfeifer expressed that it should be a part of the plan.

“Don't wait until the building is built, the traffic is there and then study the accident problem,” Holabaugh said.

Pfeifer jumped in, “Then all the sudden we've got four, five or six crashes there a week because people don't understand they have to yield to oncoming traffic when the signal turns.”

Pfeifer said that he was certain the incidents would increase when the Terrace is built, especially because people would be able to enter and exit the facility right off of 322, rather than with a controlled traffic light.

Whaley said they totally agreed but PennDOT did not seem to see it their way. Pfeifer expressed his concern for that whole area and will be getting a letter prepared in the very near future.

In other business, this meeting was actually the 2010 Re-Organizational Meeting with the following being appointed: Chairman: Roy Whaley, Vice-Chair: Richard Holabaugh, Secretary/Treasurer: Rose Mumau, Depository: First National Bank and Solicitor: Attorney Alan Shaddinger.

There was also some discussion about the “Cops Program” which was explained briefly.

The program consists of a three year grant, from the federal government, that pays for an officer(s) in full for three years. This would cover all aspects including the insurance, etc.

At the end of that three year time, there is a stipulation that he/she be hired on by the municipality. At that time, the reins would be handed to them and they would take over the pay and benefits.

Currently, the department is interviewing for part time officers. They might eventually go 24/7 but wanted to do that with the part time scenario and ease into it gently due to budgetary issues.

After quite a bit of back and forth, Whaley said he was not keen on the idea due to possible strings being attached and the like.

Township Supervisor Kevin VanHonk, on the other hand, expressed a desire for more information, such as numbers to compare and more details in general, before putting the matter to rest - the bottom line being, Pfeifer is going to gather all the information he can concerning the pros, cons, costs, etc. in order to compare it with the current course of action. It will then be discussed, debated and fleshed out at future meetings.

The chief presented the activity report for December of 2009 and it was as follows:

There were 8 traffic citations issued in the township and 7 in the borough;

1 non traffic citation in the borough; 1 misdemeanor arrest in the borough;

2 field interviews in the township;

3 incident reports in the township and 3 in the borough; 1 incident cleared in the township and 2 in the borough;

7 accident reports in the township with 2 injuries; 13 follow up reports in the township and 10 in the borough;

61 calls in the township and 10 in the borough and 5 outside the area; 39 verbal/written warnings in the township and 37 in the borough;

47 traffic stops in the township and 46 in the borough and 3 motorist assists in the township.

K9 activities were: 1 assist in the township and 5.5 hours of training.

Total calls were 193 in December.

An Executive Session was called in order to interview potential police officers.

The next meeting of the Conneaut Lake Regional Police Commission will take place on February 17. The meetings are held at the Sadsbury Township building and begin at 6:30.