Marion considering lower speed limit on 256

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JERRY ENGLER
The Marion City Commission Monday directed City Attorney Dan Baldwin to write a resolution lowering the speed limit from 40 to 35 mph from Eastmoor Drive to the east city limits on U.S. Highway 256, but not without questioning whether traffic from the east can slow down quickly enough.

City Administrator David Mayfield said the Kansas Department of Transportation recommended the speed reduction following a speed survey it did in Marion in June 2003.

Discussions among city personnel centered on high traffic turning points that would be affected including the school bus barn, the entrance to the country club and the driveway to September Apartments. It was felt that because of those points, lowering the speed limit would enhance safety, Mayfield said.

Police Chief Michel Soyez said the biggest safety concern is for somebody pulling out of one of those driveways to go west.

Commissioner Larry McLain wondered if traffic will truly get slowed to 35 from 55 without more buffer zone to reduce speed.

Mayfield said warning signs of a speed zone ahead for west-bound traffic constitute the buffer zone now, and are state responsibility.

Commissioner Jim Crofoot said, “I’m kind of against it, but as sure as I say that I’m afraid there will be an accident or something there. Like Larry I’d like to see a little more of a buffer zone.”

Public Works Director Harvey Sanders said one block on North Cedar next to the Catholic Church has been torn up with the expectation a four-inch blacktop overlay will be put back on it next week.

Sanders noted that spring cleanup time is continuing with what seems like record levels of waste going to the transfer station, or in the case of leaves and branches to the tree dump.

Soyez said that there will be many locations, to be announced later, where gun owners can pick up free federally sponsored child gun safety kits.

Mayfield said new locks are being installed at the Third Street entrance to the city building because it has come to his attention that keys have been copied before being returned with “no idea how many are out there.”

He said the city’s office security is threatened by the situation. From now on keys will be checked out only during office hours with a $5 a day penalty assessed for late returns, Mayfield said.

The commission passed a corporate resolution with Central State Bank that limits financial signatures and authority for the city to Mayfield, Sanders, City Clerk Linda Holub, Mayor Martin Tice and City Treasurer Angela Lange.

Tice proclaimed this municipal city clerk’s week in recognition of the part the clerks pay and their history in city government.

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