Lee Street ‘Do Not Enter’ Sign Removed, Reinstated Six Days Later

McKENZIE (May 15) — On Wednesday, The Banner asked its online community to spot the difference between two photos taken on April 26 and May 15, 2024 after it was brought to our attention by two different business owners that the Do Not Enter sign that instructs drivers on Broadway not to turn right on to Lee Street (a one-way street) was removed on May 9 after the city council meeting.

Considering the manner in which Broadway was recently converted to a one-way street, a sign was erected with no public notice or information, it was unclear if the city was now instructing two-way travel on Lee Street.

The Banner spoke with several people last week regarding the Lee Street change, many expressed their concerns as well as their curiosity as to the thought process behind this decision.

Several asked if Lee Street was now two-way. The Banner replied, please, for your safety, do not turn right on Lee Street from Broadway.

A brief history, on April 23, Broadway Street was converted to a one-way street at Mayor Ryan Griffin’s request without prior notice, public input, newspaper public notices or an ordinance with two readings, as state law requires.

During the city council meeting on May 9, City Attorney Beau Pemberton advised that the one-way sign in front of Prater’s Taters on Broadway Street should be removed to allow two-way travel on Broadway until an ordinance with two readings passes the city council. It is not a traffic law until the ordinance to change Broadway to a one-way street passes second reading. The ordinance passed first reading on Thursday, May 9, after Mayor Griffin placed the tie-breaking vote.

The only sign that should have been removed was the lone sign indicating one-way travel on Broadway Street, in front of Prater’s Taters.

After The Banner’s story was published on Wednesday, at 3 p.m. that day it was noted that the Do Not Enter sign was back on Lee Street. The sign was down from May 9 until May 15 when The Banner published the story.

The one-way street sign in front of Prater’s Taters remained in place for 17 days.