BROOKSVILLE — If plans go through, Bracken County drivers will have to lighten up on their gas pedals on certain roads.
At a previous fiscal court meeting, Judge-Executive Gary Riggs had been asked by the court to identify areas in the county which may need lower speed limits.
“Not all of the areas I came up with are in subdivisions,” said Riggs as he presented an initial list of 11 areas he felt fit a criteria of limited access roads or high density residential areas with no outlet.
A preliminary list included the former city of Foster and the Wellsburg area. The list grew to 14 areas by the time discussion ended, at Wednesday’s meeting.
Safety was the main concern; repeated calls about alleged speeders on cul-de-sacs and dead end roads were difficult to police with the county speed limit set at 55 miles per hour.
Alternatives were considered.
“You don’t think a ‘Children At Play’ sign would slow them down?” Magistrate Perry Poe asked.
An unfortunate effect of such signs may be a perceived permission for children to play in the roads, an activity also discouraged, officials said.
“I don’t think speed limit signs are going to slow them down,” said Sheriff Chuck Rechtin, adding that the signs would give police teeth in citing those going faster than the posted limits. He suggested 25 miles per hour would not inconvenience those living on the roads.
Radar equipment on the police cruisers will be put to use to help get the point across, he said.
Later in the meeting, magistrates also approved more than $40,000 to purchase two more cruisers and equipment for the sheriff’s office, part of a vehicle replacement plan put into motion in 2007. Part of the cost should be recouped with nearly $20,000 per year in “recovery funds” the department brings in each year, officials said.
Without even a request from the county clerk, but to help alleviate space and storage issues in the her office, magistrates also approved purchasing nine new E-Slate computerized voting machines to replace the older, larger machines.
Federal grant funds of $4,500 per unit, for the first eight units, will be used to purchase the machines with the county making up any difference in cost and paying for the ninth unit. The devices should be available for the November election, Harp Associates representatives told the clerk’s office.
“The funds are use it or lose it,” County Clerk RaeJean Poe said.
She had asked court for more space to secure voting equipment and for space for expansion of her office to accommodate more storage units for records and placement of a plat map file unit with easier access for the public. A suggestion at the previous court meeting had included the possibility of County Attorney Mike Clark moving his office outside the courthouse to free up office space for Poe. Clark did not oppose the idea and cited several surrounding counties which did not have the county attorney office on site, but nearby.
After a straw poll of support from magistrates, Clark said he would look around the city of Brooksville for a suitable space. Cost of any rent could come out of funds Clark has on hand for office use, he said.
“It would be easier and less costly to move my office than hers,” Clark said.
In other business, the court:
— Approved a request from the family of the late Dwayne “Pie” Jett to be allowed to place a memorial bench on the courthouse grounds. Jett was a former Bracken judge-executive; he died in June.
— Was informed there are presently three home incarceration participants being monitored in the county.
— Was informed Gov. Steve Beshear would be at the courthouse on July 28, for a 30-minute visit and presentation.
— Approved a motion to allow Riggs to purchase a video camera for county committee usage.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 276.
