When Chris Gottschall moved his family back to his hometown of Manteno, back in 2019, he chose Leahy Drive as the place to buy his home. It represented a quaint, quiet cul-de-sac where the kids would be safe to play in their yards.
For years he has addressed the problem of speeders, yet the final straw was the previous night. Fearing a parent’s worst nightmare, he talked about the incident that pushed him to speak publicly – something, he stated, he has a hard time doing.
On June 1, around 9:15 p.m., Gottschall heard a commotion outside. A speeding vehicle jumped the curb, nearly missing his children playing on the neighbor’s lawn. Burnout tracks on the road showed speeding was an issue. Gottschall and his wife, Hailey Myers, contacted the police and filed a report. The next day, Gottschall contacted Village Mayor Annette LaMore, who visited Leahy Circle/Drive to observe the burnout tracks and assess what could be done.
At the June 2 board meeting, Gottschall spoke to board members and Manteno Police Chief Alan Swinford about what it is going to take for speeds to be enforced. This is not the first time he’s had issues with this. Chief Swinford addressed his concerns and stated they did put a squad out on Leahy Street that morning, and yet there is no way to tell the impact.
Gottschall expressed frustration with the uncertainty surrounding the installation of speed bumps, which he had previously inquired about. He was reminded the village ordinance mandates at least 1,800 feet of straight pavement for installations.
“Is it going to take the death of a child to change the ordinance?” Gottschall exclaimed. “Would you want it to be your child? We need more effort.”
Chief Swinford addressed his concerns, stating, “Our top priority is the safety of our residents; however, it’s somewhat like preaching to the choir. We want drivers to understand speed limits and residential areas exist for a reason, to protect everyone who lives, walks, or bikes in those neighborhoods. Our goal is not to issue tickets, but to gain voluntary compliance and encourage safe driving habits.”
Trustee Peggy Vaughn, Chair of Public Safety, requested an Executive Session to discuss this topic, along with other topics as well. Issues from that meeting will be discussed at future board meetings.
According to Jim Hanley, the superintendent of Public Works, the streets with speed bumps are Westshore, Meadow Patch, and South Cook Drive. Mayor LaMore stated the cost of speed bumps is approximately $4,500, and village employees must install them in the spring, taking them out for each winter. The main artery of the ordinance is not about the cost; it is tied to the prerequisite of streets being at least 1,800 feet of straight pavement.
Chief Swinford also addressed the concerns after the meeting stating they have increased traffic enforcement efforts in targeted neighborhoods throughout the village. Officers will conduct additional patrols using radar and station enforcement teams in areas where speeding has been frequently reported.
Gottschall feels there is a long road ahead of them…to see the difference that he is yet to see. Chief Swinford added they not only have watched the area but have also put an electronic speed sign on Leahy Street. It not only monitors the speed but records the data and will help continually improve the enforcement efforts.
This past May, 95 citations were issued, 47 of which were written warnings, 37 traffic tickets, 11 non-traffic tickets, and a total of 83 traffic stops. In April there were 78 citations issued, 41 of which were written warnings, 30 traffic tickets, 7 non-traffic tickets and a total of 71 traffic
Residents are asked to continue reporting problem areas by contacting the department at 815-929-4801 or on the village website.