St. Joseph City Commissioners have heard an earful about problematic noise and lead-footed drivers around Lions Park Drive. At a meeting this week, there was about a half hour of public comments from residents focused on those issues. They reported vehicles speeding own Lions Park Drive and other streets while making too much noise. Mayor Laura Goos told us she’s like to hear a report from the department of public safety.
“We would be happy to talk about it in a session where our public safety director can talk to the neighborhood and vice versa,” Goos said. “We love to have the comments, but also would love to be able to get some data and statistics behind that.”
One resident said the issue appears to be seasonal, but “it’s getting scarier and scarier every year that we’re there with our kids.” She said, “the acceleration that occurs down the street, along with the noise, is jaw dropping, it’s frightening.” Others described vehicle engines that sound like gunfire and cars drag racing on the street. St. Joseph Department of Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker said the department has one officer assigned below the bluff each night and they have a speed sign at Lions Park Drive. He said he will report back at the next meeting with information from speed studies. City Manager John Hodgson said state law limits how loud a vehicle can be, and that limit is quite high. He said the city can’t supersede the state law with a rule of its own. More will be presented in two weeks at the next commission meeting.
