St. John's members say there's no rush hour

Several people spoke during a public comment period during the Jordan City Council tonight. Their concern was the $2.8 million project that includes widening work at the intersection to which the church is opposed, as well as reconstruction and sewer system upgrades along Highway 282, between Rice Street and the bridge over Sand Creek.

Here's some of what they said:

- Jordan doesn't have a rush hour, said Cy Wolf, a church member.

- Every year since 2004, the city has proposed to Scott County that Highway 282 be rerouted around Jordan, Wolf said. "You're planning for two things." The rerouting and the increase in traffic on the road from which traffic would be diverted, he said.

- Bigger neighboring towns have seen vast increases in traffic, but residents of those cities would rather see the traffic go, Wolf said. "Shakopee was a town that didn't want to let go of (Highway) 169."

- An increase in traffic means interruptions for parishioners attending church at St. John's, members have said. "It definitely will interfere with my quality of worship," Wolf said.

- During a meeting last Friday, one engineer said that a level of service D is acceptable, said Larry Martin, an attorney for St. John's. City Engineer Carol Caron, City Administrator Ed Shukle, and Mayor Ron Jabs have argued that a level of service C is acceptable. The intersection is at level of service B. "You're still fixing something that's not broke," Martin said.

- Parking issues are not resolved, Martin and Caron said.

- The Rev. Timothy Yanta asked the council why the largest piece of property purchased by the city is the church's corner. "That whole corner's going to be changing," the church's priest said. The church is the only "permanent" structure on a corner near the intersection, Yanta argued.

- "You're going down the wrong path," church member Kathy Lapic told the council. She read from Thessalonians, a book in the Bible.

- "It's an honor to wait in the shadow of St. John's church," said Connie Hennen, another church member. She urged the council to keep the road as is.