This week's headlines

Photo by Hank Lohmeyer Traffic, calm but congested, lines up in both directions, blocking the southbound lane of Highway 65 at Cedaredge Elementary School one day last week. Traffic trying to access the student drop-off/pick-up point is the reason for the congestion.Cedaredge Police Chief Robert Yant reported to the town board during its Feb. 21 meeting on a series of safety and security response meetings that he and his officers have had recently with local school officials.

The meetings have been geared to establishing procedures and for coordination of handling emergency situations that could arise, including even the presence of "active shooters" on school grounds, the chief explained.

Sessions have been focused on coordinating with staff on procedures that would be used in situations so both school and law enforcement know how to expect the other to respond. The schools are providing detailed floor plans of their buildings with room numbers so officers can familiarize themselves with internal layouts of the schools.

In another report subject, Chief Yant told the town trustees that efforts to calm and manage vehicle traffic at the new Cedaredge Elementary School have had some positive effect.

"Traffic is calming down," the chief said.

Still, he noted that traffic congestion persists and that improvement in traffic flow is due partially to parents opting to bring their kids to school late in the morning and avoid traffic congestion.

Other parents who arrive early at student pick-up time are causing congestion by blocking the south entrance to the student pick-up area. Sometimes traffic backs up into the highway in both directions as motorists try to turn into the full loading area, the chief explained.

The new Cedaredge Elementary School is a point of great pride in the community. But when the school opened last fall, the chief and some town trustees faulted the cramped traffic flow patterns, limited parking facilities, inadequate signage, and highway lane striping that accompanied the new building.

CDOT traffic engineers told the DCI they designed the best possible traffic patterns while adhering to regulations in the space available to them. But traffic flow patterns on the school grounds, particularly in the student drop-off point continue to present a challenge for some parents, according to the chief's town board report.

In other business at its Feb. 21 meeting, the Cedaredge Town Board dealt with the following business.

• Golf course pro Larry Murphy announced that the golf course is open, both front and back nine.

• Town Administrator Katie Sickles reported that some lower town expenses and better revenues than projected in 2012 had helped produce an additional $69,000 over budget.

•Trustees approved a liquor license renewal for the Cedaredge Lodge.

• Trustees approved two separate agreements on water sharing with the Cedaredge Cemetery. The town's approvals are pending acceptance by the cemetery board.

• Trustees voted to resubmit the grant application for GOCO funds to be used in High Country Park improvements. The first application was turned down by GOCO.

• Trustees heard from new library manager Lee Hart on reading and computer literacy initiatives being undertaken at the library. An ESL (English as a second language) program is a possible addition to the Cedaredge Library program offerings.

She said the library district faces declining revenues due to lower property values. The library district is funded by property tax levy.

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