Directional signs create controversy
Although the directional signs that popped up all over town haven?t caused much of a stir themselves, the location of some and the wording on others has caused controversy and confusion in a jiffy.
When the idea first originated, Jack Qualls, city planner at that time, wanted to direct traffic from the bypass onto Spring Street and into the downtown area. When the signs were finally placed, directions led travelers down New Smithville Highway and into downtown.
The signs were placed by McMinnville?s Public Works Department and selection of where the signs were placed was made by using a Uniform Traffic Control Device manual.
?Everyone who comes into the city comes in through one of five major streets,? said Public Works director Bill Brock. ?When you direct people through residential areas, you are going to confuse them. The classes I?ve been involved in stress that people should be kept on main roads and not on back roads. So, I moved some of the signs and I felt that it was the best move.?
According to Brock, another reason the signs were moved was the already established truck routes that restrict trucks in the downtown area to only those making deliveries. He was concerned that truck drivers making a downtown delivery would follow the sign and try to go down Spring Street.
After the signs were placed in areas other than previously indicated, the Streets and Sanitation Committee received a request from downtown merchants to allow a sign that states ?Historic District? to be placed at the bypass intersection that would direct travelers down Spring Street.
?Having tourists travel down Spring Street would make a beautiful backdrop,? said one downtown merchant, Warren County Furniture owner Ed Partin, whose business just happens to be located on the corner of Spring and Morford streets. ?You will know you are in a historic district because you see historic homes. We know you are going to use your best judgment and that?s fine. We would just like you to consider it.?
If there is a problem with trucks, the solution is easy.
?Try it for 90 days to see if you have an outgrowth of truck traffic,? said Partin. ?If you do, by all means take the sign back down. If we have a lot of cars through there in the summer time, that?s a good problem to have.?
The wording of some signs may be changed because of possible confusion:
? According to Alderman Patti Nunley, some of the signs read ?Historic District? and others ?Historic Downtown.?
? The sign pointing to the Nunley Stadium reads the ?Football Field,? but the one going to Pistole Park reads ?Pistole Park? and not soccer field.
?I think the one at Pistole Park should read soccer field,? said Mayor Royce Davenport. ?If you are looking for the soccer game, you won?t know to go to Pistole Park.?
Although no changes were made at this time, committee member Donald Hillis agreed to look into the situation and see what could be done.
The department plans to continue putting up signs directing people to areas of interest such as the Barren Fork Greenway, the arboretum, city hall and Magness Library.