Mayor Sky Huddleston suggested on Sept. 15 that the city post no-thru truck traffic signs on Route 66.

Over the past few meetings, the board has made it abundantly clear that the city cannot afford to address the cracks on Route 66. The lowest bid they received for crack filling was $26,000, while the cost for striping was an additional $30,000. These bids were only for the western half of Route 66. However, the city’s budget only allows for approximately $14,700. Furthermore, the rerouting of commercial trucks through Bourbon is exacerbating the damage to the roads.

With this knowledge, Huddleston suggested that the city post no-thru traffic signs.

Ward 2 Alderman Mary Heywood said they had them at one point, but they were taken down.

Huddleston explained that if they are delivering items, then it doesn’t qualify as through traffic, but if they are on Route 66 because there was an accident on Interstate 44, then “they’re going to have to sit on the interstate and wait.”

Heywood asked if the trucks could use the north service road instead. Huddleston said they consistently don’t, and that GPS usually directs them through town.

“I’d like them everywhere. They want to take heavy traffic through our town and not stop in our town, I say they should put it on the railroad or the interstate,” Huddleston said. “So what I’m suggesting, for whatever it’s worth, isn’t just like an all no-through-truck-traffic over 26,000 pounds. If it’s a commercial truck that’s going through, get on the interstate.”

Huddleston added that, from a conversation between himself, City Clerk Stacy Blake and a representative with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), his understanding is that the city has authority to just place the signs without permission from MoDOT.

“My understanding is that the city, a long time ago, took possession of Route 66, going all the way to the edge of city limits on the western side because it was, like, part of a deal. It was technically unlawful at the time, but it went through anyway a long time ago, like, when I was a little kid, and now we’re stuck with it, and now we have to maintain it forever,” Huddleston said.

Blake explained that the city tried to give it back, but MoDOT refused by saying that Missouri is underfunded in the highway department, and “they get creative on how they fix things, and that’s what he suggests we do.”

She said that they can take the money collected in fines paid by through-trucks to help pay for Route 66.

City Attorney Sarah Messex added that by ticketing the trucks, commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders “can’t get lower recommendations to get it off their records,” so it will help deter thru-truck drivers on Route 66.

Ward 2 Alderman Tim Davis inquired if they could investigate the possibility of purchasing signs that inform large truck drivers that they are no longer permitted to Jake brake on Pine Street due to excessive noise.

They are going to look for the previous ordinance that allowed the city to post the no-thru truck signs previously, and order more to put up.

In other business, Heywood suggested that the mayor look into appointing an Emergency Management Director because they are required to have one and don’t.

“If we don’t appoint an emergency management director, we can each be individually liable for a disaster, for the results of a disaster in our community. We do have an emergency plan, and we need someone to be in charge of that plan,” Heywood said.

Blake acknowledged her experience in the position but expressed that she couldn’t take immediate action if required due to her current responsibilities as city clerk.

They will start actively looking for someone to fill the position.

Ward 1 Alderman James Naquin discussed Alyssa Koch’s idea from the Aug. 18 meeting to install a second culvert at the triplex she owns on Marlette Drive to prevent flooding.

Koch had explained that she couldn’t afford the costs required to have a professional look at the problem and develop plans. The board recommended asking her neighbors if they had any concerns with her putting in another culvert pipe, and the issue could be readdressed at a later date.

Naquin visited some of the neighbors of the triplex, and many expressed concerns that it would negatively impact their area.

No action was taken.