By ROD ROWE
Goshen City Council members received a petition signed by more than 140 residents Monday night requesting plans for changing C.R. 40 as the south link road is being completed, but voted 4-3 to not discuss the issue at their meeting.
Attorney Teresa Cataldo, Bristol, said she represents a group of residents living in the area of C.R. 40, east of Ind. 15, where a new link road is being built.
“This group of citizens doesn’t want to see C.R. 40 turned into a cul de sac,” Cataldo said. “It will adversely affect their health, welfare and safety.”
She said her group would like to see C.R. 40 continue and be extended to the new access road to C.R. 27, rather than convert a section of the existing C.R. 40 into a cul de sac.
She said 360 people live in that area and 142 signed a petition asking the council to re-consider the design of the change to C.R. 40.
City attorney Larry Barkes pointed out the project is 90 days into construction and about six weeks from completion.
Mayor Allan Kauffman said if city officials tried to stop the project now the contractor might sue the city.
Mary Cripe, city engineer, pointed out the new road will be a much safer system with fewer driveway cuts, especially for school bus traffic as the second phase takes it to Ind. 15. The section of C.R. 40 will have a more residential feel, she said.
Councilman Jeremy Stutsman said when the Redevelopment Commission discussed the plan for the road, fellow Councilman Everett Thomas was the only one speaking against the plan.
Councilman Darryl Riegsecker moved to place the C.R 40 issue on the Monday agenda. Chic Lantz offered a second. But Dixie Robinson was the only other member to vote for adding the issue, while President Tom Stump, Julia Gautsche, Stutsman and Thomas voted to end the discussion.
