City leaders opted for the best of both worlds Thursday when the Perry City Council passed a resolution approving two options for routing bicyclists from Wiese Park to the High Trestle Trail trailhead at Second Street and Otley Avenue in downtown Perry.
The compromise measure emerged at the end of a vigorous 90-minute discussion, led by Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh and including members of the Perry City Council, Perry Parks and Recreation Department, Perry Police Department, city engineers and nearly a dozen members of the public, who were given an opportunity to address the meeting.
Council member Jeremy Mahler, a strong proponent of the Bateman Street/Second Street route, reiterated some of the points he made at the council’s April 15 meeting in support of his opinion, which was shared my a number of other attendees.
Similarly persuasive arguments were offered in favor of the Eighth Street/Willis Avenue route by Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson and others, with the strengths and weaknesses of all options given a thorough earing in the course of the work session.
Council member Barb Wolling moved a resolution that would make each route “primary,” with appropriate signage providing direction for all trail users, from the most to the least experienced or skilled. Wolling’s measure passed unanimously.
Participating in Thursday’s work session were Cavanaugh, Peterson, Perry City Council members Mahler, Wolling, Vicki Klein and Chuck Schott, with Joseph Shelly attending via telephone, Perry Parks and Recreation Director John Anderson, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn, Bolton and Menk engineers Matt Ferrier and Josh Shields and community members Mindy Farmer, Joelle Miner, Cheri Tice Scheib, Lynsi Pasutti, Jackson VanKirk and Shi-Quan Nettingham.
