Wagner votes no on adding speed bump
After discussion back and forth that included possibly eliminating stop signs and adding speed bumps, the Flomaton Town Council voted 5-1 to put a speed bump on College Street near the rear of the elementary school, elevated and crosswalk from the school to the practice field and leave the three-way stop at the intersection of College Wilkerson and Streets with Councilwoman Kay Wagner voting no.
Police Chief Dane NeSmith and Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye said the data collected by the speed monitor on College Street supported a speed bump on College near the school.
Councilwoman Wagner said there were 11 stop signs from Highway 29 down College to Ringold and “It’s not going to stop anybody from speeding.”
“Hump, bump or whatever you want to call it, no speed bump will stop it,” Wagner said. “Tickets will stop it.”
Moye said he felt the stop signs on College at the intersection of Wilkerson were useless and said a combination of speed bumps was the solution. He suggested possibly two and elevate the crosswalk, which is now simply paint in the road.
Mayor Jim Johnson said if the town had about 60 police officers they could stop everybody from speeding, but the town doesn’t and won’t.
Chief NeSmith said the problem is when they put an officer in that spot, nobody speeds and they don’t run the stop signs.
Councilman Roger Adkinson said he felt a series of speed bumps would help but also felt the three-way stop at College and Wilkerson was a nuisance. He agreed the council needed to stop the speeding problem on College near the elementary school.
Mayor Johnson said the town has eight or nine three-way stop signs across the town.
Wagner said the town should take the three-way stop signs down and add three speed bumps.
“All I asked for was one speed bump and now ya’ll want three,” Mayor Johnson said.
Moye suggested leaving the stop signs and going with one bump and raise the crosswalk, which will serve as smaller bump.
“A lot of stop signs are put up to control speeding, but that’s not what stop signs are designed for,” Moye said.
Councilman Charlie Reardon suggested leaving the stop signs, putting the one speed bump and raising the crosswalk.
The council then voted 5-1 to put the one bump and raise the crosswalk with Wagner voting no.
Chief NeSmith said speeding is the biggest complaint he receives but said in the last 90 days officers have made 836 traffic stops that have resulted in 699 citations and 35 arrests.
