Shields Township officials accused of using speed humps for political retribution: ‘They’ve abused people’

A group of residents and the Shields Township have a bumpy relationship over the installation of speed humps around the township, with some accusing the supervisor of maliciously choosing their locations.

Supervisor Jeff Urso denied the claims, arguing the humps were installed for pedestrian safety after a child was nonfatally struck while crossing the street in front of the baseball fields at a park, and are generally supported by residents.

Kathy Blahunka, a longtime Shields Township resident, routinely attends township meetings, along with her mother Janice Schnobrich. During a Nov. 14 meeting, both sharply criticized Urso and the township on a range of issues, including the installation of the speed humps.

Blahunka is part of a group of residents opposed to the speed humps. She claimed several people have had speed humps installed in front of their homes in retaliation for speaking out against Urso.

“Four people got speed humps put in front of their house, and there was no communication with the public,” Blahunka said. “They’ve abused people with these speed humps.”

Urso said he was aware of the complaints, but argued most township residents support the speed humps, which slow down traffic.

“Neighbors were complaining all the time that cars were flying in and out of that park,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of positive responses from the neighbors. It basically comes down to a few loud people that will come to the meetings to say they don’t like them.”

While the area is under the jurisdiction of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office personnel, they “just don’t have the resources” to patrol inside the neighborhoods, Urso said. The humps are meant to calm traffic without law enforcement.

The speed humps were placed along stretches of road without stop signs and around two parks. Urso, who joined the board in 2020 as a trustee, said he had run for office advocating for child safety after the incident several years ago.

“He was crossing the street, almost lost his life,” Urso said. “I have three sons, and it was very eye-opening for me.”

While some feel the installations were done as acts of political retaliation, Urso said township officials have also received complaints that they had installed speed bumps in front of homes as a favor to certain residents. He denies both claims.

“At the end of the day, we put them where we want people to slow down and make sure kids are safe,” he said.