Revised Animal Ordinance, Traffic Signal Approved at Village Board Meeting
A new traffic signal is set to go up near Main Street and Central Park. The move comes after a 9-year-old was killed while on his bicycle. Meanwhile, the village also approved new terms to their vicious animal ordinance.
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Skokie's most recent Village Board meeting touched on two big changes for motorists and pet owners.
The board unanimously approved a revised version of its vicious animal ordinance. The following are among the more notably changes:
- It is acceptable if an animal attacks a person(s) to prevent physical harm to their owner or people in the owner's household.
- The village says only 20 percent of animal attack victims sign complaints. That will now change, as a witness - or police officer - can sign a complaint on an animal attack. This should allow the village to take necessary actions against problem pet owners, according to the Skokie Review.
- If a person(s) enters an animal owner's property without consent, and they are attacked, the owner will not be held accountable.
- The village further defined their terms of what a "dangerous animal" is.
- Problem pet owners will have greater sanctions against them.
- Problem pet owners will have greater difficulty when trying to own animals.
New traffic light to be built in light of 9-year-olds death -
Following the tragic accident that killed 9-year-old Carter Vo, the village approved the construction of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Main Street and Central Park, or just off of Middleton Elementary School, the Skokie Review reports.
The construction of the new traffic signal will cost the village about $250,000 and will take at least six months to install. Police already direct traffic outside Middleton during the morning and afternoon. That will continue until the construction of the signal is complete.
The move comes after Hanin Goma, 23, of Skokie, caused a three car accident that killed a 9-year-old boy who was on his bicycle. The accident happened near the intersection of Main Street and St. Louis Avenue on May 21.
To read our previous coverage or the most recent news on Goma's case, click here.
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howard kirschner
10:41 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
soon it will be faster to walk through Skokie, than drive.
rzdw92
11:37 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
The media still continues to mis-report this. Main Street has had a long history of issues in and around Middleton, which school staff, parents, police and village officials have been grappling with for a very long time. That's not an overstatement, it's just a fact. Students don't have a safe crosswalk. Neither do locals who want to get to McNally park. Various traffic control methods have been used but the problem still remains and kids and adults continue to get hit or nearly get hit. This is the real story but the media continues to focus only on Carter Vo (understandably I suppose, if you're only about selling advertising). The traffic task force was formed by the mayor to look at all the issues, not just St. Louis & Main. I, along with many others, are thankful that better traffic controls are going in.
If you don't like it, drive elsewhere, then those of us along Main St. will be that much safer.
Lynn
10:52 am on Monday, August 27, 2012
For those who have children that are friends of Carter, it is importatn since it gives some sense and shows that people care about what happened and want to help prevent it from happening again. Beyond that, there had been accidents prior to and since. The traffic light will benefit the community, the fire department coming from Central Park, and eventually the High School that will exist behind Middleton. I applaud the community and village for looking at all components of the safety and need.