PERRYSBURG – Confusion surrounding traffic signs on Fort Meigs Road have residents wondering where to
turn for clear direction.
Since Monday of last week, city police officers have filled ticket books with more than 50 citations for
failure to obey a traffic control device or for driving on a closed roadway between Coe Court and Eckel
Junction Road, where the city is working on a major rebuild of Fort Meigs Road that will yield three
lanes with drainage improvements.
Three residents, who live in the subdivision off of Coe Court, told city council Tuesday that mixed
signals about permitted traffic in the area were unfairly costing families who are trying to leave and
return to their homes.
Alan Piotrowski, Tricia Court, said his wife was first stopped and told by an officer that she could pass
through the zone to reach her house. The next time, his wife was warned for using the road. He said his
wife was told by a sergeant that both officers were correct in their judgment. She was cited at a cost
of $180 after using the road a third time.
Piotrowski’s wife, Bonnie, said she was told by the third officer that he had already written roughly 75
tickets in the area.
"Somebody should take into consideration the hardship of people that live back there," Alan
Piotrowski said, adding that people who do not live in the area would be justly cited for driving in the
construction area.
Roger Wright, a McKinley Drive resident who was cited at 6 a.m. on Oct. 13, said he has seen inconsistent
enforcement in the area. He wanted to know when officers stopped issuing warnings.
"I understand the citation I got, and I know why I got it," he said. "But I feel there’s a
point in time where, if you’re going to start giving citations, you need to continue giving them."

Danielle McDowell, Logan Lane, said she was seen and not stopped by an officer as she left her home and
exited the neighborhood through the construction area. When she was later cited for entering the area
again, she said the officer was "rather short" with her.
Mayor Nelson Evans told the residents that the city engineer was working on making a clearer sign. He
said local traffic – originating or ending in the zone – includes two residences, the township fire
station and a park entrance. He said the restriction on thru-traffic pertains to traffic that would pass
through the zone entirely to reach an intended destination.
"We are going to try to clarify that sign," so that people driving northbound would see a sign
allowing no access to Eckel Junction, and people driving south would see a sign that restricted access
to Coe Court.
City Engineer Douglas Dariano said, when reached by telephone for comment before the meeting, that local
traffic also includes access to some soccer fields. The project includes a complete tear-out of the old
road, he said. As a result, manholes that stick up four or five inches above ground and unclear road
markings pose a danger to drivers in the construction zone.
Lt. Dave Weaver, spokesperson for the police division, said before the meeting that people leaving the
McKinley Woods subdivision could detour south to Levis Commons or Roachton Road but could not drive
between the subdivision and Eckel Junction Road.
"We started out by giving warnings when this all started, and then … people have continued to
drive through there," he said. "And especially when workers are present, it just gets a little
too dicey. So, just for the safety of everybody involved, we’ve been" strict on enforcing the
signs.
Evans said he discussed the inconsistency issues raised by the Piotrowskis with the police chief, who
would be "looking into that." The mayor said he intended to follow up with the chief about any
possible "attitude" issues during traffic stops.
Responding to a suggestion from council member Maria Ermie, he said the city prosecutor could be apprised
of the confusion among residents near the construction zone but that the judge ultimately will decide
upon any possible concession.
"At best, we’ve been guilty of erratic law enforcement," council member Joe Rutherford said.

In other action, council
¥ Accepted the application for the Davis II annexation, located on Ohio 25 between Gloria Street and
Lincoln Boulevard, with Rutherford abstaining.
¥ Approved purchase of three Crown Victoria police cruisers from Statewide Ford Inc. at a cost not to
exceed $63,489.
¥ Heard from member Tom Mackin, Finance Committee chair, that tax collections were down 24 percent from
last October and 1 percent year-to-date.
¥ Approved the issuance and sale of one-year notes in the amount of $7.54 million for various city
improvement projects at an interest rate of 1.25 percent.