Improvement suggested for Peters Township intersection
If you’ve had close calls or worse at the Peters Township intersection of Sugar Camp and Church Hill roads, you’re not alone.
Police Chief Douglas Grimes told Peters Township Council members during their Nov. 12 meeting that it is a “very dangerous intersection,” especially for people who aren’t from the area.
“We have had 16 accidents there in the last several years,” he said, noting that not all were reportable. “It’s only a matter of time before we see something that’s more critical.”
The configuration features three stop signs, with vehicles traveling east on Sugar Camp Road not having to halt. Some drivers create especially hazardous situations by not signaling left turns.
“So if you’re sitting here,” Grimes said about the stop sign for westbound Sugar Camp traffic, “and they don’t have a turn signal on and you start into the intersection, that’s where problems occur.”
According to township manager Paul Lauer, three-way-stop configuration is a result of concerns about eastbound vehicles having to stop on a hill during periods of ice and snow.
“That may be true for half a dozen times during the winter,” he said, giving his opinion that a relative lack of visibility compromises safety throughout the year.
Grimes has been approached about the situation.
“I was asked to go and look at whether or not a streetlight would help that intersection,” he said. “I think that may help, but that is not the solution to prevent accidents from occurring there.”
Lauer said he would pursue the steps necessary to place another stop sign at the intersection and that he thinks the number of accidents there would warrant the measure.
In other business Nov. 12:
• At the recommendation of Grimes and Lauer, council is reviewing the township’s ordinance pertaining to hunting.
“We have a restriction that says we designate where you can hunt in Peters Township,” Lauer said. We do not have the authority to do that now, nor did we ever have the authority to do that.”
Grimes told the council about an issue that arose recently.
“Somebody from Michigan had moved to the area, went online, read our ordinance, and it says in our ordinance he can come to the Peters Township Police station and view the map on where he’s permitted to hunt,” he said.
A map drawn decades ago has not been updated.
“You think about how much the township has changed since then. I would be frightened to tell people where they could hunt in Peters Township at this point, because I think the areas are somewhat restricted and can’t be defined easily by a line,” Lauer said. “I think we would be a lot better off letting the game commission, since that is who has jurisdiction, make that determination.”
Pennsylvania Game Commission’s general hunting regulations features provisions for safety zones.
“It is unlawful to hunt for, shoot at, trap, take, chase or disturb wildlife within 150 yards of any occupied residence, camp, industrial or commercial building, farmhouse or farm building, or school or playground without the permission of the occupants.”
In a related issue, Grimes suggested pursuing “a specific ordinance in relation to how we manage hunting on township property,” including parks.
• Council tabled a resolution to adopt a new drug and alcohol policy for the township. The current policy dates back to 1995.
A proposed change is the implementation of a “safety-sensitive” category for employees, who would be subject to testing for a broader range of drugs.
“We are very close to having an agreement with the firefighters with regard to their collective bargaining agreement,” Lauer said, “and they have indicated a willingness to incorporate this drug policy into that agreement and have all firefighters classified as safety-sensitive.”
Some questions about the policy raised by council member Monica Merrell prompted the measure to be delayed until the document is reviewed further.
“I think the policy is extremely well-written and better than the original one from 20-some years ago,” she acknowledged. “I’m not comfortable with everything that’s in it right now.”