Letter: Business owner asks for public support

Editor’s note: The final design for Bus. 51 has not been approved. At present, AECOM has only been contracted to complete 30 percent of the design.

To the Editor-

I am a business owner on Church Street. I have been a part of the South Side Business Association almost from its beginning. Years ago, this corridor was in the planning stages to be redone.

The plan presented created so much backlash, that it was put aside. The money was then used to build the overpass on Hoover.

At the time, I believe the preferred plan for the road was to keep Church Street four lanes: Narrow it down to two lanes through the center section, go back to four lanes on Division and the north end. At least, that is what the South Side Business Association wanted.

Ten years later we are in the same situation with this major road through the city. The road diet plan is the proposed plan by the city. The reasons they use to justify this are being told over and over again:

• The current highway is unsafe: I have owned my business for 25 years. I have only seen one accident in front of my place. The speed limit is only 25. Truly not a terrifying speed.
• We need multi forms of transportation: This means bike lanes. Like the ones all over the city that don’t get used.
• The road diet is cheaper: I don’t know if that is true. They didn’t have an alternative plan to compare it with.
• We put together a group of people to seek their input on the plan: I don’t know of any business person who was involved in this planning.

I have attended many of the meetings in the last year and voiced my thoughts. All our input has been ignored. This is going to be a road diet no matter what. We asked to have a straight-up referendum to keep the corridor four lanes. The vote was a no.

The only option to keep this road diet from happening was the binding direct legislation we are voting for on August 9. It didn’t need to come to this. It was the only option left to let the people decide what is best for this road.

If you travel from the north side, thru the corridor to the south end, take notice of the signs you see. The Church Street section is dominated by the four-lane signs and “Save Business 51. Vote YES.” The center section is where you see the majority of the opposing opinions. Not many signs on the north end.

To me, why not make everyone happy. Use the hourglass approach. The business people would be able to survive. The residential section would be able to keep their kids safe. The north end would be easier for the people to access the businesses.

I don’t live in the city and will not have a vote. I am asking you for your vote to help me. Please vote yes.

Jack Leichtfuss
Owner, Hardee’s of Stevens Point