Staff writer
A group of concerned citizens approached city council Monday to ask for 20 mph speed limits in all residential areas and yield signs at Maple and Freeborn Sts. and Coble and Weldon Sts.
“These cars that think they’re doing 30 — they’re not,” Marion resident Susan Hall said. “I’m concerned cars aren’t gonna see these little kids.”
Councilors acknowledged that whatever the speed limit is set at, drivers tend to exceed that number.
“Thirty means thirty-five,” Melissa Mermis said.
Marion resident Mark Call said he had talked to parents, and a lot voiced support for lowering the speed limit.
“We think 20 mph will be a lot safer for the kids,” he said.
Councilors said they would get a recommendation on the subject from Police Chief Tyler Mermis, who had yet to arrive at the meeting.
Mermis arrived after the group had left, and, at the end of the meeting, councilors asked him for his thoughts. Mermis said his patrolmen normally drive 20 mph on the residential streets.
“It probably should be 20,” he said.
Councilors asked whether moving an electronic sign that displays the speed of westbound drivers on Main St. could be moved to a residential area to prevent drivers from exceeding 30 mph. Mermis said that wouldn’t be likely until after KDOT completes construction on a roundabout it’s installing at US-56/77/K-150.
No action was taken.
In other business:
- The city agreed to contribute $5,000 to WRAPS for a grant application that would enable samples taken from the Marion Reservoir to test algae levels to be professionally analyzed. Peggy Blackman with WRAPS said she also will seek a $5,000 contribution from Hillsboro and a $10,000 contribution from the county.
- Council approved an $11,000 purchase of a 24-inch tube to repair a culvert on Commercial St. that has created a sinkhole.