(KAIR)--Be prepared to stop. 

That’s the word after an ordnance was approved by the Atchison City Commission Monday to add two stop signs to the 10th & Kansas intersection, creating an all way stop there. 

The recommendation came from both the Public Works Department and the Atchison Police Department due to the high number of accidents in the intersection. Public Works Director Justin Pregont presented the figures to the Commission, saying “According to Chief Wilson and their traffic accident records 10th & Kansas is routinely in our top five intersections on an annual basis. There have been 17 vehicle crashes in the last five years."

The creation of the all way stop will cost the city $300, and will include large, bright flags when the new signs are first installed to alert drivers of the changes. Several commissioners remarked this decision would make the intersection much safer for drivers, and the ordnance passed 5-0.

And the commission has decided to act on the story we brought you last week on taxi cab insurance rates. After a 4-1 vote, commissioners moved to lower the requirements. 

The issue was brought to the attention of city commission by at St. Joseph man who wishes to start a cab company in town, but said were rates prevented him from doing so.

Financial Director and Assistant City Manager, Becky Anderson, presented a plan after research comparing Atchison’s requirements to other cities. She remarked Atchison was typically much higher than other cities. 

The new plan will drop rates from $1 million for general liability to $100,000; $500,000 to $150,000 for accident and $100,000 to $50,000. During deliberation, City Manager Trey Cocking noted he felt the plan would give citizens access to the service of taxis while also protecting them in the case of accidents. 

And this year’s Leadership Atchison Group presented their plan for a community service project to the commission. 

The group chose a beautification project and will be extending the existing concrete Farmer’s Market square underneath the 5th street viaduct. They will add benches and lighting to the area. 

Group member Andrea Clements said she hopes the project adds visual appeal to the space while also being useful to the city.

The commission also gave approval for the purchase of two new cars for the Police Department, with the 2016 Ford Interceptor sedans approved at a total cost of just over $51,000.