Seward County leaders have identified seven general areas that create safety risks for residents and say putting data behind the list will help collaborative groups and funders make change possible.
The seven emphasis areas are distracted driving, gravel road conditions, driving in construction zones, risks associated with animals and rights of way, pedestrian travel, mental health and addiction and abuse.
Seward County Commission Chair Misty Ahmic led the discussion at the Seward County Safety meeting May 29, reminding the approximately 30 people present that the document they have put together and are now reviewing will be a living document for several years, helping them make the case for funding when grants become available and giving various groups of county residents the opportunity to take action.
The group attending the meeting included many of the partners and stakeholders who have worked on the document thus far, but also other guests who have interests in the topics and collaboration plans.
“Once we have this document completed, there is the opportunity for us to put everything together,” Ahmic said.
Ahmic said grant funders often require groups seeking funding to document that their project is necessary and a priority where they live.
Throughout the 90-minute meeting, participants chimed in when some topics were mentioned with ideas for solutions or partnerships.
For each area of emphasis, several strategies for improvement have been identified and action items prioritized. For example, under distracted driving, there are seven potential strategies to be addressed, including failure to yield at interstate on/off ramps, speeding over viaducts, speeding in school zones, multi-tasking while driving, violating school bus stop arms, motorists not yielding to emergency vehicles and failure to utilize hands-free devices.
Actions are then listed, so under Strategy 1.1-failure to yield at interstate on/off ramps, for example, four ideas are listed: Installing additional signage, installing rumble bars, a law enforcement campaign and facilitating a social media education campaign.
The 10 pages of emphasis areas, strategies and actions are followed by a more detailed listing of the potential actions, who is involved and the status of their implementation.
Ahmic said the plan can be used to identify local priorities and provide background for groups seeking grants to address issues. Topics can be wide ranging, including motorist or pedestrian safety, health concerns, issue awareness or funding for community improvements impacting safety.
Ahmic said the action plan that comes from this meeting and previous discussions will be posted on the county’s website and can be cited when organizations or government entities are seeking grant funding.
Last year, the county received a Safe Streets and Roads grant to study needed action to make the road that passes through Southeast Community College in Milford a safer route for motorists and pedestrians, and Ahmic said citing the county-wide safety plan helped obtain the grant.
While the safety action plan can be modified throughout the year, Ahmic said it is important to revisit it annually.
Partners include Mitch Doht, Nebraska Local Technical Assistance Program; Luke Bonkiewicz, Nebraska Association of County Officials; Brandon Varilek, Nebraska Department of Transportation; Hailey Behlen, independent consultant; and KC Pawling, Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association.
The county’s stakeholder discussion group is led by Ahmic and several others from the county: Lisa Borges, sheriff’s department; Jon Regnier and Heidi Fleischman, roads department; Gary Peterson, emergency management; and Raegan Hain, board of commissioners. Guests at the meeting were Mitch Doht from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Luke Bonkiewicz from the Nebraska Association of County Officials.
Stakeholders involved in the development and review of the document are Steve Fehlhafer and Seth Ford, Centennial Public Schools; Marty Telecky and Josh Fields, Seward Public Schools; Kevin Wingard; Darrin Kremer, Milford Police Chief; Brian Peters, Seward Police Chief; Mike Vance, Seward County Sheriff; Jerry Zieg, Beaver Crossing; Mike Roth, Milford; Sharon Powell, Utica; Jake Hill and Leroy Treuse, Pleasant Dale; Connie Wilken, Staplehurst; Josie Propst and Jon Propst, Tamora Volunteer Fire Department; Tyler Strong, Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department; Maria Scamehorn, Seward County 911; Jacob Jennings and Jonathan Jank, Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership; Kevin Novak and Roger Reamer, Memorial Health Systems; Ed Koster, Southeast Community College; Shannon Koranda, CASA; Craig Dittmar, Midwest Automotive; Lee Doehring, Seward resident; Gene Brooks, Concordia University; and Eden Lund, Seward County Diversion.
The current plan is posted on the Seward County Roads Department website: www.sewardcountyne.gov/roads.
