The Sedona-Oak Creek School District governing board took a stand on safety and lighting on Highway 89A.
At its board meeting Thursday, July 10, the board approved a motion, 4-0, urging the Arizona Department of Transportation and the city to use both short- and long-term options for vehicle and pedestrian safety in a timely manner.
By Alison Ecklund
Larson Newspapers
The Sedona-Oak Creek School District governing board took a stand on safety and lighting on Highway 89A.
At its board meeting Thursday, July 10, the board approved a motion, 4-0, urging the Arizona Department of Transportation and the city to use both short- and long-term options for vehicle and pedestrian safety in a timely manner.
The motion came a month after Sedona City Council voted to accept six short-term options and a traffic light at Andante Drive. Council then slowed things down by reopening the motion for further consideration at a special meeting Monday, July 21.
City Council will only hold the special meeting July 21 if ADOT representatives can attend and if ADOT provides the city with what it finds acceptable, including costs, by Wednesday, July 16.
SOCSD President Bobbie Surber had received comments from board members surprised by how much ADOT and the city have changed their plans over the years, she said, prompting her to put the issue on the agenda.
The board has been watching safety on Highway 89A for a while, Surber said.
“Our focus is not universal. Our focus is just our kids,” she said, pointing out that in the winter, buses pick up students in the dark before dawn.
Board Vice President Karen McClelland did not agree.
“I have a very strong feeling that no one knows anything that is going on,” she said. “If transportation thought it was a problem picking up kids, they never addressed it to the board.”
McClelland claimed the board was looking to make a motion on something that doesn’t exist.
“There’s nothing to support at this point,” she said. “We need to have someone involved in what the city is doing and that’s all we should be doing this evening.”
Members of the public urged the board not to make a proclamation supporting lights on Highway 89A.
“The school board shouldn’t get involved in a matter that wasn’t a school board matter,” said Keep Sedona Beautiful Vice President Robert Carabell.
“This is a highly contentious issue and has been since 2006 and I’ve been involved the whole time. It’s the first time I ever heard it [as] a school board issue,” he said.
The issue is marginal compared to other things the school board should be focusing on, Paul Chevalier told the board.
“You have a city council who have a staff of experts to focus on this issue,” Chevalier said. “ … when you come up for your next grant, you don’t want a property owner with a long memory to be against whatever stance you take.”
Keep Sedona Beautiful President Barbara Litrell urged the board to get all the facts before making a proclamation.
“If you’re going to get involved, please allow us to come and give you a presentation; have ADOT come and give you a presentation,” she said.
Board member John Wesnitzer sided with the public, making a motion to allow the experts “to take care of the safety and the city will assume to do that,” which was seconded by McClelland.
Board member Carolyn Huggins hesitated to concur.
“I think we should give what is best for our kids and I’m sorry I don’t believe that with lights you don’t see better,” she said.
Surber agreed with the motion, but wanted a sense of urgency added, considering how long city planning can take, she said.
As the discussion ran in circles, SOCSD Superintendent Mike Aylstock spoke up.
“When more decisions are made down the road, then the board might want to take a position on it one way or the other, but there’s not enough information out right now to defend or endorse,” he told the board.
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 125, or e-mail aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com
