Phil Miller asks council to close Main Street for Halloween trick or treat

Should Main Street be closed for the annual trick or treat event downtown where costumed children go door to door to businesses?
It’s an annual question and the annual answer by the Belleville City Council is to keep the street open.
At the Sept. 6 meeting of the city council, Phil Miller asked the council to close Main Street for Halloween downtown trick or treat this year.
He said last year he gathered 300 signatures asking that the street be closed for the safety of the children. He said Main Street is closed on Mondays all summer from May to September and the council can’t close if for one night for the children.
He said they could have a trunk or treat event in one part of the closed street and a block party on the other end.
“I spend $500-$600 for candy and run out before the event is over,” Miller said. The new layout would give businesses a break.
He said if the council doesn’t close the street, “I’ll start stuffing this meeting.”
Mayor Conley said this is discussed each year and after discussion they agree to keep it the same.
Police Chief Hal Berriman said this is almost a tradition. They lower the speed limit and, “We’ve never had an incident where a child has been hurt … Kids rotate up and down the street pretty fast …In my opinion, if it’s working good, why try to fix it? It’s generally gone good … There’s an overflow of costumes and family participation.”
Fire Chief Brian Loranger said, “I’ve always been in favor of closing the street, but if we don’t get it right, it will be chaotic.”
There was talk of closing Main Street from the bridge to Five Points, but Chief Loranger said from Third to Fifth streets would be better.
Miller said the businesses on Fourth Street could sponsor a block party and kids could have events between the library and museum.
Mayor Conley said the whole month of October has exploded with events.
Planning Commission chairman Steve Jones said he is concerned about the excess traffic with the street closed and getting the kids safely across High Street. “It’s challenging to stop traffic,” Jones said.
Chief Loranger said when Liberty Street is tied up both ways he can’t get his fire truck out of the station.
Councilman Tom Fielder said the way it’s been is that the children are going to store fronts, using the sidewalks, and there’s never been a problem.
“You have new ideas,” Councilman Fielder said to Miller. “This needs to be developed through Booville and eventually come to council for approval.”
Miller said he’s hearing from the community.
“I’ve seen DUI arrests during trick or treating – and speeding,” Miller said “I had 300 people sign without flinching.”
Closing Main Street creates a traffic issue, Fielder said. “We’ve never had an incident…We’ve never gone all the way to the library.
“Would you be willing to chair a committee to look into new ideas for Halloween?” asked Mayor Pro Tem Jack Loria and Miller said he would.
The businesses outside of the closed “zone” could bring their treats into the zone, Councilwoman Kim Tindall noted.
“Last year, I found you had to go to the Booville committee to participate,” said Jeff Vernon of the Sugar Plum Candy Shop on South Street. “A road closure for me does nothing. I don’t want to move my goodies down to Fourth Street.”