MERRY HILL – The Bertie County Commissioners want a close look taken at the intersection of U.S. 17 and N.C. 45.

During the Oct. 1 meeting of the board, Commissioner Rick Harrell said he had received complaints about the stoplight at that intersection.

The commissioner said people complained because the two roads were met with differing stop lights. The one for traffic on U.S. 17 has a blinking yellow light for those wishing to turn onto N.C. 45, Harrell said.

On N.C. 45 there are only a red and green light and not a turn signal, he added.

“If everyone at the intersection does everything exactly right, there isn’t an issue, but that isn’t always going to happen” he said. “I think we would like that intersection to be as safe as it can be.”

Commissioner Norman M. Cherry Sr. said he thought it would be a good idea if both lights had a turn signal which allowed them to turn without yielding.

The board discussed the idea and decided it would be in the best interest of citizens of the area to forward the request to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Cherry moved the board send a letter to DOT asking them to study the road and the possibility of adding turn signals for traffic on both roads. Commissioner Charles L. Smith offered a second and it passed with a 4-0 vote. Commission Vice Chairman J. Wallace Perry did not attend the meeting.

In other business, the board:

• approved the purchase of road signs which need to be replaced throughout the county;
• tabled personnel policy additions;
• tied 2-2 on a vote to send $400 to Operation Santa Claus at the Caswell Development Center; and
• approved a request from the Bertie County Social Services to make changes to computer systems.