2006 POP Projects
Officer Kridler has worked on loading high accident intersections into an accident template that was created to assist the police department in studying those intersections.
As an initial request to look into a stop sign that was missing from an intersection, Officer Schmeling found out that out of 248 stop signs that are authorized by ordinance 8.05.070, several intersections did not have a stop sign with a corresponding ordinance authorizing their placement.
It was also discovered that the signs are added to the ordinance as they are created, therefore there was no order when looking for a specific intersection or sign. Officer Schmeling made the stop sign ordinances current and alphabetized them so it would be easier for officers, attorney’s and citizens to find a specific location. This was then approved and ratified by the Common Council.
It was brought to the attention by several residents on Algoma Drive that drivers are ignoring the 25 mph posted speed limit making vehicular and pedestrian safety a priority.
A traffic study was conducted on this street for approximately 8 days and 1852 vehicles were monitored reference their speed. Out of the 1852 vehicles traveling in this area, 7 vehicles were traveling at a speed greater than 6 mph over the posted speed limit. Residents still felt that this was a concern for the number of children in the area.
The police department responded with extra patrol and a strict enforcement campaign during peak traffic times. The word “SLOW” was painted across two areas of Algoma Drive in large white letters and the periodic use of the speed board was used to visually identify speeds of vehicles driving in this area.
Residents also assisted by placing signs in their yards encouraging drivers to drive slowly.
While on patrol, Officer Schleg found that there was a problem on Highway LL with the placement of several signs as well as traffic violations occurring on Highway LL at Willow Drive with drivers passing illegally when a vehicle driving southbound turns left onto Willow Drive.
The first part of this initiative was to move the Winter Parking and 24 Hour Parking Restriction signs, located on Highway LL in a 45 mph zone, to a 25 mph zone located on Willow Dr., east of Highway LL, when entering Westport Meadows Subdivision. Also, the Parking Restrictions sign for STH 32/33 was moved from the 45 mph southbound traffic lane of Highway LL into the 25 mph zone of the Willow Drive Subdivision. This allows for drivers to pay more attention to the city ordinances regarding parking and to pay more attention to these signs at a lower speed limit.
The second part of this initiative was to post signs on Highway LL for southbound traffic warning them that there is “no passing on shoulder”. This sign reflects the Wisconsin traffic code 346.08 indicating that this type of pass cannot be made if the operator can’t do so without driving off the pavement or main portion of the roadway. This would alleviate any misunderstanding drivers may have about what they are allowed to do when a vehicle traveling southbound makes a left handed turn onto Willow Drive.
Officer Footit realized that the skate park, like any park in the City of Port Washington, was open for use until 10:00 p.m. at night, however it did not have lighting. This did not allow people to enjoy the park safely after dusk. With the lack of lighting there was also a potential for illegal activity occurring under the cover of darkness.
Officer Footit also felt that signs should be posted listing the local municipal ordinances that would affect the usage of the park, such as the use of helmets. He also felt that a littering sign should be posted and at least two trash bins made available for users of the park.
The skate park is now more accessible to the public and signs allow users to know the local ordinances pertaining to the use of this park.
Officer Keller proposed an initiative to address the issue of vehicles crossing into oncoming traffic in order to drop mail in the curbside mailbox on N. Wisconsin St. at the Post Office.
Officer Keller had a solid double yellow line painted on the center of N. Wisconsin Street between Main Street and Washington Street, in order to denote this as a “No Passing” zone, per Wisconsin Statute 346.09(3).
This now allowed drivers to visually see that this was a no passing zone and for officers to visually see a violation and enforce it as well.
Officer Wolff decided to address the safety zone located on W. Grand Ave. westbound as you approach Spring St. As drivers drove westbound on W. Grand Ave., before approaching Spring Street, the lane to turn left was covered in white horizontal lines, thus forcing traffic to merge into one lane. Once around it, the vehicles that wished to proceed southbound on Spring St., or turn left, would have to merge back. Vehicles that did this properly often had accidents as they merged back left with vehicles that just drive straight through the safety zone without merging.
In an effort to assist drivers with the upcoming intersection and to alleviate possible accident situations, the city has removed the markings and replaced them with a solid white line and a diagonal dotted white line. This will indicate to drivers to move over to continue westbound or keep in the left lane to make a left hand turn onto S. Spring St. The white arrows indicating a left turn have remained in place. By applying a solid white line it will allow officers to enforce this if vehicles cross over the white line to get into the turn lane.
Officer Erickson observed that the lighting at Kolbach Park was on a timer and turned off after park hours (10:00 p.m.). This posed a problem as a large area of this park became quite dark and almost impossible to see anything. This posed an increased advantage for vandalism as well as a potential for violent crime that may go unnoticed. Also, witnesses to such acts may have a lack of information due to poor visibility.
The city extended the lighting to be on constantly throughout the evening hours. The residents appreciated the attention to this area.
It was brought to Officer Moertl’s attention numerous problems that exist within the Marina, North Beach and Fisherman’s Park. After scanning the area and identifying actual problems she was able to analyze and come up with solutions specific to the problem itself.
Such issues as littering, garbage removal, open intoxicants, public drunkenness and cleaning of fish during the spawning season were affecting the quality of life in Port Washington specific to these areas.
Such implementations were new "Welcome" signs to the park, additional lighting, additional restrooms, an alcohol ordinance, permit restrictions, regular trash pick-up, extended restroom hours, providing bags to help carry out entrails and seasonal clean-up of the area.
Officer Knowski chose to look at the problems occurring at Columbia Park. These problems included a meeting place for fights between high school teenagers, suspected drug activity and other undesirable activities. This occurred mainly in the evening hours when the lighting was poor.
Added lighting allowed the area to be more visible from the street level. The trees have also been trimmed back, providing better visibility as well.
Officer Bergin decided to review the traffic situation on W. Summit Dr. between Summit Dr. and Westport Dr. The problem exists when children are being picked up or dropped off at the school. This causes traffic congestion and poses a safety hazard for both motorists and children crossing the street.
Officer Bergin purposed a “No Parking” sign being placed along the south side of Second Ave. to allow room for two-way traffic to flow freely.
Reported to Officer Nye were complaints regarding rowdy and vulgar children on the playground and complaints of illegal drug use and break-ins to vehicles.
Officer Nye recruited the help of Officer Footit to do daily walk-throughs in the complex and to talk with management on a regular basis. Both officers initiated contacts with residents as well.
Residents stated that they felt more comfortable talking with police personnel after they initiated contact and felt the problems were being addressed by management as well.
Sec. 71.935, Wis. Stats., permits the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to intercept, or set off, taxpayer refunds and other refundable credits against certain county/municipality debts. Examples of debts that are eligible for this program are any unpaid fine, fee restitution or forfeiture.
Debts are then established and maintained through file maintenance transferred electronically between DOR and the police department via the internet. This information is then edited and compared to the DOR income tax history file and the police department is notified weekly if the debt has been accepted for certification. When one of our debtors files their Wisconsin income tax return and is due to receive a refund, the police department will collect their debt from this refund. Checks are mailed weekly by DOR. The administrative fee is 2% of the money collected and is only charged when there is a collection.
Any subject who has a warrant through the police department and the police department has a social security number for, has been entered into the TRIP program.