DALTON GARDENS — Speed in Dalton Gardens has been a watchword this month after Mayor Curt Jernigan suggested creating a four-way stop at Wilbur Avenue and Fourth Street. 

The intersection is on the City Council agenda to discuss at 6 tonight to investigate traffic-calming practices as a low-cost means to keep residents safe.

The proximity of children walking to Dalton Elementary School through the area was also raised as a concern. 

"We've had a couple of near misses, especially after school started," Council President Tyler Drechsel said.

Drechsel said Tuesday that city officials are waiting to hear from the engineer and attorney for Dalton Gardens on whether a new traffic study is needed.

"We're not required to do a study to put traffic lights in, but it's strongly suggested," Drechsel said. "We just want to make sure that we do things above board in any direction that we go." 

Jernigan also voiced a worry about elderly residents crossing the road to get to their mailboxes and back.

City officials have also looked into the cost with Kootenai County to retain a law enforcement officer to keep drivers on alert on Fourth Street.

Jernigan said in the last couple of years since Dalton Gardens added stop signs to 15th Street, they have helped drivers stay slower for pedestrian safety.

Although the 2023 traffic study didn't necessarily argue in favor of stop signs being required, the data collected showed there were narrow streets, no street lights at intersections, streets with line of sight obscured and areas with no sidewalks.

Maintaining the quiet, walkable aspects of the community while keeping traffic moving through the area was voiced as the shared goal in potentially creating a new four-way stop at Wilbur Avenue and Fourth Street.

If there's a possibility of using the 2023 traffic study as part of any future decision, that would be a great help.

"They're not cheap," Jernigan said. "So far, no formal steps have been taken yet, but it's all about the safety of our residents."