More than 100 Mina residents have expressed concern about the amount of traffic on Route 426 in the town.

Dave Rausch brought a petition to the September meeting of the Mina Town Board asking for a weight restriction on commercial vehicle traffic on Route 426 and a lower speed limit. Chautauqua County Legislator Martin Proctor said he spoke with county officials about the possibility of rerouting some traffic from Route 426 to Mann Road, which is also County Route 1.

In addition to the actions suggested in the petition, board members discussed other actions the town can take to remedy the situation. Safety issues focus on the stretch of Route 426 from the blinking light at the intersection of Route 426 and Mann Road until the intersection with Sunnyside Road on the south end of Findley Lake. Board members agreed that five actions should be evaluated: requesting the state Transportation Department conduct a safety study; requesting the town’s insurance company review the safety concerns and offer recommendations; request a meeting with Brad Bentley, county public facilities director, regarding the process to convert Mann Road from a county road to a state highway; request the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office increase speed enforcement on Route 426; and requesting the New York State Police increase speed enforcement. The board unanimously approved a resolution asking for all five actions.

In other business,

¯ Concrete for a new sidewalk in the state DEC fishing access area had been poured in mid-September and the custom kayak launch and boat docks were ordered.

¯ Board members will also discuss passing an open container law on advice of the town attorney. Rebecca Brumagin, town supervisor, told board members she received a phone call prior to the Harvest Festival from a deputy sheriff who was inquiring if Mina has an open container law. The town does not have a law beyond New York state’s law and the town attorney advised that not having an open container law could lead to some confusion regarding establishments that are approved to serve alcohol within a confined area and the different regulations that allow for other people to walk around freely with an alcoholic beverage in an open container.