By AMY RICKER
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Road and Bridge Department was contacted by a Liberty Township official requesting a site distance study to see if a stop sign was necessary at the corner of SW 60 Road and SW 20 Avenue.
County Engineer Barry McManaman says he conducted a sight distance study and concluded the view is limited at the intersection due to a row of trees and oilfield tank battery. After consulting Liberty and South Bend Townships, who had no opposition to the new stop sign placement, McManaman recommended a sign be place on the east and west corners of the intersection.
County Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson asked McManaman that once a study is done, is the county held to a higher liability standard should an accident occur if a stop sign is not placed?
“That’s my opinion. Once an issue has been brought to light, you do a study and determine there is a need for a stop sign, and we didn’t put one up, and there is a future accident, there could be some liability there,” explained McManaman.
Barton County resident Terry Gant owns three corners at the intersection and voiced his opposition to putting up a stop sign.
“I own three of the corners and drive through that daily for almost 40 years. We moved the trees twenty years ago for that reason. I see no reason to put a stop sign there,” said Gant. “There are what, 3,000 intersections in Great Bend, Kansas that are worse without a stop sign. People need to learn how to drive and yield the right of way.”
Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said she was alarmed to learn that since the study has been completed and shows the stop sign is needed, she does not want to put the county nor township in a position of more liability should an accident occur.
Gant said he would prefer that the speed limit be lowered in the area rather than the stop sign placement, but McManaman said a speed limit reduction should not be used at an intersection where sight is limited.
The Commissioners voted unanimously for the stop signs to be placed at the east and west corners of the intersection.