Speed limit likely to go down

Although a study on county road 200 South didn't expressly justify a speed limit reduction, the Jay County Commissioners decided to slow down traffic anyway on one stretch of the road.

Jay County highway department superintendent Ken Wellman presented the commissioners Monday results from a traffic study on county road 200 South between U.S. 27 and Ind. 67.

The 72-hour study, which took place from 6 a.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Sunday, showed an average of about 1,000 vehicles per day down that stretch of road with an average speed less than the county road speed limit of 55 mph.

"The average speed I'd say is pretty close to 45 miles per hour," said commissioner Jim Zimmerman as he reviewed the results.

The study was prompted by complaints from residents along the road that semis and other vehicles were traveling at high rates of speed.

Of the nearly 3,000 vehicles tracked during the study, only about 100 were semis, school buses or other "long" vehicles and only 162 vehicles were traveling at speeds higher than 66 mph.

"The speed isn't all that high," Zimmerman said. "I don't know if it justifies doing anything."

Commissioner Milo Miller Jr., however, suggested lowering the speed limit to 35 mph for a stretch between U.S. 27 and the old railroad bed west of Nan Del Lane due to visibility issues on the hilly roadway. Zimmerman and Commissioner Faron Parr agreed slowing down traffic because of those sight-line issues was a good idea.

The commissioners told Wellman to get a distance for that stretch and that they would adopt an ordinance changing the speed limit at a future meeting.

Miller also asked Wellman about getting a quote to cut down that hill near Nan Del Lane about a foot to help improve visibility. Wellman said he would contact A. Landon Excavating to get a price on that work.

If the hill is reduced, it would need to be done a few days before a federal stimulus paving project gets underway later this summer.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Signed a letter of recommendation for the City of Portland to send with a funding application for the city's north side sewer separation project.

•Approved personnel changes for the Jay County Sheriff Department in preparation of the Jay County Jail Expansion opening.

Sheriff Ray Newton said he will need to increase the department's administrative assistants work week from 35 hour to 40 hours and will need to hire six additional full-time jailors.

The commissioners told Newton to request additional appropriations from the Jay County Council for the increased personnel costs.

•Approved replacement of three windows at the Jay County Highway Department. Fort Recovery Lumber will provide the windows at a cost of $825.78 and will be installed by Rich Emery at a cost of $375.[[In-content Ad]]