‘We care about our citizens’

Normally, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors does not require citizens to perform a skit in order to request a change or address problems in their community, but a group of about 10 students from Lynnville-Sully did just that.

Using cardboard cutout vehicles, stop signs and traffic lights, the students of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Error 404 team reenacted an issue they experience on a regular basis: cars running red lights at the school crosswalk along Highway F62.

Dude, you almost hit me! What are you doing?

Yeah, dude, that light was red.

Yeah! Red means stop!

After confronting the car that ran the red light, the students re-imagined the same scenario with barriers made from the handles of hockey sticks. This time, the comments are more favorable and the cars remain behind the gates

I feel so much safer now that the crossing gates are here.

Me too!

Same here!

Students proposed the board of supervisors install crossing gates to prohibit motorists’ abilities to run the red light, allowing for safer passage across the busy highway.

Traffic lights were installed in the Sully crosswalk about seven years ago, the students said, in order for citizens to have a better chance of crossing the street. The school had even hired a crossing guard to further assist students.

Before presenting their request to supervisors, the students made sure to do their homework. Citing a 2018 study by the Iowa Department of Transportation, the students found out more than 3,000 cars drive through the crosswalk every day.

Because Sully is a small town of about 900 people, the students determined the areas cannot have constant police surveillance. After speaking with their crossing guard, they learned at least one to two cars run the red light at the crosswalk each week.

Results from an informal poll taken by the group — which is comprised of students from fifth grade to eighth grade — found that 75 percent of students have almost been hit by cars running red lights.

Crossing gates were not the students’ first option. They looked into the idea of installing surveillance cameras and decided that although it may deter people from running red lights, it may not completely stop vehicles from moving.

If installed, the gates remain upright when the light is green; when the light turns red, the gates will lower and block incoming traffic from both sides to allow pedestrians to walk freely.The group argued “crossing gates are efficient and will have a more immediate effect than any other solution.”

Students researched costs from the United States Department of Transportation, which were estimated to be between $14,000 to $22,000. The Error 404 team also pitched their idea to the school, their local city council representatives and Supervisor Brandon Talsma prior to the meeting.

Together, all 10 students said, “We care about our citizens and will go to great measures to improve the safety of our town.”

Colleen Taylor, a teacher at Lynnville-Sully Community School District that helps coach the group alongside April Mintle, said the skit and presentation were part of an FLL challenge, whose theme this year was “city shaper.”

Taylor added, “The kids were supposed to identify a public space in their community that can either be improved or changed. They did a lot of research and talked to different community members and family members.”

FLL encourages kids elementary and middle schools to “research a real-world engineering challenge, develop a solution and compete with LEGO-based robots of their own design.” Taylor said the kids hope changes can be made.

“Whether it be getting crossing gates installed or just doing something or getting more awareness raised to make use safer,” she said.

Although no formal action was taken on the students’ request, the board of supervisors praised the Lynnville-Sully kids for their initiative and said they would have Jasper County Engineer Russ Stutt take a better look at the issue and, perhaps, find a solution.

Supervisor Doug Cupples said, “It’s good you want to take care of your fellow students and your teachers and staff.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com