April 22, 2003 

Tonight, Mitch Davis on behalf of the Lake Forest Property Owner’s Association made a presentation to the Public Safety Committee of the Daphne City Council regarding several problems submitted by Lake Forest members.  The committee was kind enough to allow the presentation and agreed to follow up on the requests.

The first pertained to the main entrance (Highway 90) of Lake Forest.  A number of people have complained that the intersection is dangerous because of the heavy traffic that has resulted from the increase in businesses along that stretch of highway.  Some members would like to see a red light put at that spot.  The first call made was to Ken Eslava, the public works director for the City of Daphne.  Mr. Eslava, also a resident of Lake Forest, said that Highway 90 is under State of Alabama jurisdiction.  He reported that because of other such requests, the State had done a study of that intersection and determined that a red light was not needed.  Mitch said that may be true for some hours of the day, but during the morning and evening rush hours, the intersection is hazardous.  When the issue was brought up again tonight, City Councilman Bob Kehr said that the study had been done before the recent build up in business and the matter might be worth a second look.

The second matter presented pertained to the very dangerous traffic congestion that occurs on Lawson Rd at the entrances to Daphne High School and the Eastern Shore Christian School during the morning and afternoon hours.  The Lake Forest representative suggested that directional lights be added to the red lights at the intersection of Lawson Road and Highway 13 and the crossing guard be moved to a location between the two schools.  One committee member was concerned that such a move might endanger pedestrian students who crossed the street at that intersection.  Mitch suggested that the lights, themselves, should solve that problem and insisted that the real danger was at the two driveways as drivers try to leave the two schools.  Chief of Police Joe Hall said that the Police Department would study that situation and try to find a solution.  It was also recommended that the police officer at the intersection of Highway 27 and Lawson Road might stay a little longer at those hours.  Several members present pointed out that Highway 27 is a Baldwin County road and the County should be covering that intersection anyway.  It was noted that the City of Daphne police direct traffic at the Highway 27 intersection because Daphne citizens were at risk.  He said that at one time the County and City shared duties at the intersection but the County had stopped participating.  Councilmen Kehr and Greg Burnam suggested that the LFPOA petition the Baldwin County Commission for a red light at that intersection.  Mitch agreed to follow up with the County.

The final issue brought before the Public Safety committee was the poor condition of Ridgewood Drive.  The street is over thirty years old and is in serious need of a complete re-paving.  Councilmen Burnam and Kehr said they would present the issue to Ken Eslava because, they said, it is a Public Works problem.

The meeting went very well and the committee members present were very polite and seemed genuinely interested in helping us find solutions to the problems mentioned.  Councilmen Burnam and Kehr are also Lake Forest residents.