The City of Harlan’s Streets and Alleys Committee held a public meeting Monday night in the Therkildsen Center to discuss the possibility of changing 6th and 7th Streets to all one-way, from Cyclone Avenue to Chatburn Avenue (Highway 44). The Therkildsen Center filled with over 50 people, including several business owners attending the meeting to give an opinion on the changes. Harlan City Councilman Keith Kaufman said the reason behind the changes was to generate interest from non-local people in coming to the downtown area. City Administrator Terry Cox said there were several concerns from the crowd.

He said “Overall it was the safety of kids, a speed factor with taking the parking off and where the cars will park. Also the snow removal and where cars will park during removal.” Cox said several businesses had their own concerns. A petition was also passed around that was signed by 55 residents against the change to 6th and 7th Streets. Cox says the matter of making 6th and 7th Streets one-way has been brought up several times in the past.

“This was brought up 12 years ago and 8 or 12 years before that. It was brought up as a discussion items to see if there was any improvement to do it back then and now this time.” For now, Cox said no decision will be made. “There will be another streets and alleys meeting to recommend to the council to go further or any changes or they will recommend they will stay the same. That’s where we are at right now.”

(Joel McCall/KNOD)