Steinbach city council has approved changing the intersection of Barkman Avenue and Fourth Street to a four-way stop. The Hanover School Division had requested that move and also asked that the speed limit be reduced to 30 KMH on Barkman from Mckenzie to Fourth. The city's administration studied the matter and, based on traffic data, it recommended that no changes be made.

But city councillor Jac Siemens moved Tuesday that the city proceed with the four-way stop.

"The Hanover School Division has come to us, this is the second occasion, on exactly that intersection and that stretch of roadway. I feel that number one, we need to listen and number two, we need to do something about it. There are a lot of children and young adults between the three schools, the high school, the middle school and the elementary school. There is a lot of walking traffic, there's a lot of parental traffic, there's a lot of bus traffic. I am not the first person to look to put up stop signs in any areas either, but I think it's all in the name of safety here."

Councillor Michael Zwaagstra seconded the motion and notes it's one of those matters where council looked beyond the traffic data in making a decision.

"This is one of those cases where you need to look at the whole picture. The numbers and the statistics are important but you also have to consider the concerns of parents and you have to look at some of the things that have happened there recently and there was an accident that did happen in that intersection not that long ago. It's just a matter of taking all these things into consideration. In our judgment, we felt this was an appropriate place for a four-way stop."

City council was unanimous in approving the four-way stop. It will take effect as soon as the city staff is able to erect the signs.

Mayor Chris Goertzen says it doesn't give the school division everything it asked for and the city will monitor the impact of the four-way stop on the situation.

"We'll see how that transpires and watch it closely to make sure that it is functioning the way we'd like to see it function."