Hillsboro looks to improve safety
Staff writer
A June 25 accident that killed a 13-year-old boy who rode his bike into the side of a semi has Hillsboro city council members looking for ways to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety in the city.
Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles told city council members Tuesday that while nothing would prevent Trevor Dayton Adams Wullenweber’s death, he is looking at options to make the intersection of Ash and D Sts. safer.
Stiles said he consulted with an engineer but had not yet received definite answers.
Improving bike and pedestrian education might help, he said.
“The city can find reasonable ways to improve pedestrian safety there and across the community,” Stiles said.
In other business Tuesday, council members passed a new sidewalk ordinance that permits businesses to use space in front of their building to display merchandise, as long as the first 10 feet back from the curb is not obstructed.
Mayor Lou Thurston said he hoped business owners understood the 10-foot requirement.
Council members got their first look at the 2021 budget proposed by Stiles and set a budget hearing Aug. 4. The $17.15 million budget is lower than the current year’s $18.3 million budget but raises the tax rate just more than one mill.