Short Street problem with semis "not easily solved," says Street Committee chair

The City of Decorah's Street Committee spent 45 minutes Thursday night trying to resolve the problem with semis driving across property owned by Steve Olson when making deliveries to the Sears store.

The city had earlier put up signs along that portion of Short Street prohibiting parking along the side of the road, but Decorah resident Doug Shullaw, who lives in the house owned by Olson, told the committee "I call the police and nothing happens."  That led Olson to ask committee members why the city put up the signs if they were not getting enforced.

Sears owner Gene Ude said he has been talking to the drivers of the semis, "but they have been very rude and obnoxious."  Ude said of the trucking companies making the deliveries, "They don't work for me and they don't listen to me."  He praised Olson for trying to work out the problem.

Street Committee members agreed that the ultimate solution to the problem would be to widen that portion of Short Street, but such a project is not on the city's list of upcoming projects in the next year.  They also discussed the possibility of moving a utility pole that would allow a wider entrance to the access to the Sears store loading dock.

In the meantime, the head of the Public Safety Committee, Randy Schissel, who also serves on the Street Committee, said stiffer enforcement would help.  "If truckers get enough tickets, they lose their CDL (licenses)," said Schissel.