Speed hump procedures were a source of dispute at the Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.
Commissioner Gary Richardson made a motion to reject a request by the traffic engineering department to update the speed hump procedure.
Currently the speed hump policy, which was adopted in 2007, only requires that one property owner on a street request a speed hump in order for a study to be conducted that would ultimately affect speed hump installation. Approximately 90 % of the studies fail. In the case of the few that do pass, residents who did not want speed humps installed typically complain to engineering division and county management.
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The proposal from the traffic engineering department would add a petition to the speed hump program that would require signatures from 25 % of the residents in favor of installation before a study is conducted on a given road.
“They really want more community involvement in these studies,” said Randy Prickett, traffic engineering manager. “We really need input from the entire neighborhood to make this work.”
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Commissioner Dewey Galeas countered Richardson with a motion to approve update with the amendment that the number of signatures required be increased to 51 %.
The motion to approve was carried four to one with Richardson opposing.
After the meeting adjourned, commission board chairman Doug Duncan announced that he would be running for reelection. Duncan’s term as chairman concludes in December 2022. He eligible for one more term.
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“If voters will let me serve one more time, I’m certainly willing to do so,” said Duncan.
Duncan emphasized county finance as a key focus if he is elected again.
“If I can leave the millage rate as low as it’s ever been, no debt and good quality of life projects for the citizens, I think it’s a win,” he said. “But it’s the people’s seat, not mine.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
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