When it comes to speed limits here, there is a wide variety from which to choose.
So when public works director Larry Lynch presented council a recommendation on Sept. 27 to reduce the speed limit on two roads, councillor Neil Driscoll noted there had been a petition for only one.
The recommendation was to have council receive the report and that staff be directed to erect 60km/h speed signs between emergency numbered properties 8234 and 8260 on Concession 12 (about 500 metres), and staff erect the same speed signs between Concession 12 and emergency number 7339 on Sideroad 12 (about 800 metres) and the speed reduction bylaw be amended accordingly.
Council was dealing with a request from residents on Sideroad 12. They petitioned council for a reduction in the speed limit in 2009.
They attended council on Aug. 16 to ask the township to repave their road, which had been returned to gravel this year after it was ripped up in the spring because of heavy trucks. The township returned it to gravel because it could not afford to repave it this year.
While council was unwilling to guarantee repaving it next year, it did agree to consider a drop in the speed limit in that area. The speed limit had been set at 80km/h.
Lynch told Driscoll that despite having a request for only one road, he was recommending reductions on both because of the petition for paving.
Driscoll reminded him that Sideroad 15 had brought a similar request. Lynch said that road was proposed for a reduction – and council defeated it.
Driscoll asked, “Can it be included?”
Mayor Bruce Whale suggested council can ask public works for another report and the issue can return to council. In fact, Whale said, council should review the entire speed limit bylaw.
“We may identify other areas,” he said.
Lynch said township policy seems flexible. He recalled a reduction request for Lebanon was approved, and others were turned down over the years.
He said the reason some are rejected is, “We didn’t want slow zones all around on roads designed to move traffic.” He added the OPP will not enforce speed zones if they do not meet the township’s bylaw.
Whale suggested council simply deal with the request before it.
Councillor Mike Downey wondered “Where does the 60 come from?”
Lynch said that is what the residents requested, but he added there are other variances across Mapleton.
Whale suggested again council needs to review its bylaw. “Every municipality seems to be different,” he said.
Council then voted to accept the report and have staff prepare the signs.
