Niles City Council met Monday night to review legislation to place a guard rail on a property on Robbins Avenue, near Hartzell Avenue.

This legislation stems from complaints about cars driving straight into a property at a T intersection where drivers must turn either left or right to continue on the road.

Council members stated there was a total of three accidents in the past seven years at the intersection.

Councilman Jimmy Julian told 21 News council has contacted the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) about this and they did not recommend a guard rail, but instead suggested a blinking double arrow sign indicating that drivers need to turn left or right.

However, complaints about the property were still coming in, so the council once again reached out to ODOT, who said they would look into the possibility of a guard rail.

"Let's just say a driver blasts through this stop sign, doesn't make the turn, and hits someone," explained Councilman James Sheely. "We could end up with someone seriously injured or dead."

"Think about the risk versus reward," said Councilman Doug Sollitto. "There is no benefit. There is nothing the city gains. We already own the guardrail. It's already paid for. All it has to do is be installed. There should be some sort of safety mechanism."

Legislation was then drafted proposing a guard rail on the property in question, but Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz vetoed it.

21 News has obtained a copy of the veto letter, in which Mientkiewicz explains that the placement of a guard rail on the property is "unwarranted" and backed ODOT's initial recommendation of the double arrow sign.

"[A] guardrail is not designed for head-on impact such as protecting buildings near intersections, which is the basis of the concern," Mientkiewicz said.

Mientkiewicz added that crash data at that particular intersection has been taken into consideration and says the placement of the sign is the most cost-effective way to mitigate the issue.

"There have been instances where there have been guardrails at the end of these streets and had been hit," explained Councilman Todd Weddell. "It had no effect at stopping vehicles from hitting a house or hitting anything."

Council plans to override Mayor Mientkiewicz's veto at a Wednesday council meeting.