MASON CITY – The family of Colby Schmidtke, a Mason City teen who passed away after an accident on Birch Drive, is asking for signatures on a petition that would ask for the closing of the road to motor vehicles.
Angie Stark, who is helping to lead the petition drive, says “There is no purpose to this road, none.”
Angie has passed the petition around to teachers and school staff to have the opportunity to sign it. She says about 20 other people also have the petition and are actively seeking signatures. “Every signatures helps,” she said.
The petition claims “Factors that may have contributed to the (Schmidtke) accident include the road’s deteriorated condition to a single lane with several potholes, no markers, poor visibility, and no speed limit signs.”
The petitioners would like to see the entrances to Birch Drive blocked off, making it strictly a biking/walking trail. Currently, the road stretches from Illinois Ave on the north side of Mason City High School and connects with Highway 122 east of the high school. The road seems to be in some state of disrepair and neglect at this time, as it is cracked and crumbling in many places. See photos, below.
The petition also says “In the past few weeks, the city has discussed a City Improvement Plan, with no guarantee, to repave Birch Drive including a path at an estimated cost of $650,000 compared to a fraction of the cost for a restored recreational path. ”
The “Birch Drive Access Petition” will be shown to the Mason City School Board at Monday’s meeting by School Superintendent Anita Micich. Micich and Angie Stark will speak to the City Council at the public forum after Tuesday’s meeting about closing Birch Drive and will ask the Council to move forward with closing the road.
You may download the petition, print it and obtain signatures.
Birch drive photos:
