Walking Bus

We have all been wondering how we can improve our children’s safe transportation to school. Many have to walk to school along busy roads and highways. There is no silver bullet to this problem but if we explore and implement several options we may help mitigate this issue. As Isanti grows our traffic will increase and the number of children having to walk to school will escalate. This causes safety concerns. One possible solution is walking buses.
A 'Walking Bus' lets a group, or 'bus', of children walk from home to school each morning quickly and safely under the guidance of trained adult supervisors. This takes the support of parents and dedicated volunteers.
Program Objectives
• Increase daily physical activity for children and adults.
• Increase safety for pedestrians in the neighborhood.
• Reduce traffic in and around the neighborhood and school.
• Decrease crime when more people are outside keeping an eye on their neighborhood.
• Increase community cohesion by helping neighbors get to know one another.
• Increase child safety

These are just a few of the goals we can reach with walking buses.

The walking bus is the perfect alternative to school age children walking alone along busy roads and highways. I am looking to form a group that is willing to explore this and other possible solutions to our children’s safety needs. This is one of many possible answers to our children’s’ transportation question. Anyone interested please e-mail me at george.wimmer@genesiswireless.us or call 763-444-7158. I have approached Isanti County Active Living by Design and School District 911 for their support in this project. Both are excited and interested in solving this problem. With the help and support of parents, volunteers and the school district we can improve the safety of our children.

Bar and Grill

I have had a couple questions regarding the proposed Bar and Grill and my vote against it. I would like to make a correction in the Isanti County News article. The proposed site is not the old Burger Top location. It is the property just east of Hurricane carwash. This puts it literally just across the road from a residential neighborhood. The old Burger Top would be an excellent location but it is not what is being proposed. I am working to soften the impact of this bar and grill with entrances and exits only on Main St. This should mitigate most of the traffic concerns. There will need to be a comprehensive landscaping plan to soften its visual and sound impact on the neighborhood. Without a site plan to understand the owners intent it makes it difficult to judge the compatibility with the surrounding businesses and residential neighborhood. I would like to see more options for our dining and entertainment dollars but not at the cost of an existing quiet residential neighborhood. I look forward to working these issues out when the site plan is presented to City Council for approval.