City decision underscores need for better public dialogue

For decades, the question of how to safely move children across Highway 34 to the Aurora Aquatic Center has lingered in the background. Last week, that long-simmering issue boiled over after the Aurora City Council voted unanimously to discontinue the use of crossing guards during pool season.
Reasonable people can disagree about whether that was the correct decision. What should not be debatable, however, is that the way important public decisions are communicated and discussed matters just as much as the decisions themselves.
City officials were clear that this was not a budget move. Instead, the council relied heavily on a seven-page memo/study from JEO Consulting Group, which concluded that crossing guards are not typically used on four-lane state highways with 35 mph speed limits. The report suggested the existing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) already serve the same function, and that utilizing a crossing guard provides limited additional safety benefit while potentially exposing young guards to risk.
Input from longtime pool co-manager Madison Farris also carried weight. His comments were based on years of watching near-misses and distracted drivers. Police Chief Paul Graham acknowledged similar concerns, noting officers have witnessed violations even when strobes are activated.
Those realities formed the basis of the council’s decision.
Yet while the vote was unanimous, the public reaction was anything but.
Much of the frustration stemmed not from the safety rationale itself, but from the perception that the decision was made without public awareness or input. Though the item appeared on the meeting agenda and was reported promptly afterward by the News-Register — the only media outlet present — many citizens encountered the news for the first time on social media. In that environment, speculation quickly outpaced fact.
Questions about stoplights, overpasses and funding spread rapidly. Some were rooted in misunderstanding. Others were thoughtful and deserved fuller discussion. But once assumptions take hold online, they are difficult to unwind.
In hindsight, this was an issue that warranted broader public conversation before a final vote. When a topic has stirred debate for decades and involves children’s safety, proactive communication is not optional, it is essential.
To their credit, city officials appear to recognize that point. There is an ongoing effort at City Hall, led by City Administrator Adam Darbro, to improve transparency and public outreach. This episode can serve as a catalyst for doing just that. It can also serve as a reminder to the public.
Engagement cannot begin after a decision is made. Council agendas are posted in advance. Meetings are open. Public comment periods exist for a reason. If citizens want their voices heard before votes are cast, participation must move beyond Facebook threads and into council chambers.
FYI: Plans have already been discussed with Darbro to not only post agendas on ANR’s website and social media platforms, but to do stories a week in advance when necessary, providing background information on issues that may be of public interest. That does not mean every decision will satisfy everyone. It does mean the process will feel less like a surprise and more like a shared civic responsibility.
Highway 34 is not getting quieter. Traffic volumes have grown. Distracted driving is a reality. Whether the long-term solution involves modified signage, a speed reduction, structural changes, volunteer involvement or something not yet considered, productive solutions will require collaboration rather than confrontation.
If this debate leads to clearer communication, earlier public involvement and a more thoughtful exploration of options, then some good may yet come from the controversy. Aurora deserves nothing less.
Kurt Johnson