From people loitering in children?s play areas to cars speeding through crosswalks, some Columbia residents? concerns appear to be universal.
“Many of these are crossover issues,” said Wendy Tzuker, village manager for Harper?s Choice.
For the first time, village managers and representatives from Columbia?s 10 village had the ears of top county officials and two Howard County Council members Thursday as they detailed dozens of issues facing residents. The District 4 Revitalization Committee, which had focused on West Columbia, has expanded to include all villages and on Thursday addressed some of the most pressing needs, such as speeding in neighborhoods, bus shelters and dangers of crosswalks.
Speeding “is the No. 1 complaint most elected officials get in this county,” Director of Public Works Jim Irvin said, adding many drivers fail to stop for pedestrian crosswalks.
The Howard County Police Department this week announced an education campaign aimed at reminding drivers to slow down, wear seat belts, and not drink and drive.
The villages and the Columbia Association could work with the police to distribute or post the bold signs bearing the traffic message, Columbia officials said.
The police department did reach out to village managers to coordinate posting the signs in village centers, and the details will be worked out in coming weeks, police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said.
Village managers also expressed a need to be in closer contact with the county?s Planning and Zoning Department.
The department recently hired a new deputy director, Kim Flowers, to serve as a liaison between the community and the department to bolster communication and is considering ways to relay information to the villages.
“We need to find a better way to reach out to you,” Planning and Zoning Director Marsha McLaughlin said.
Council members
» District 2: Council Chairman Calvin Ball ? villages of Long Reach and Oakland Mills
» District 3: Councilwoman Jen Terrasa ? villages of Kings Contrivance and Owen Brown (She was unable to attend the Thursday meeting.)
» District 4: Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty ? villages of Dorsey?s Search, Harper?s Choice, Hickory Ridge, River Hill, Wilde Lake and Town Center
