October 16, 2017 at 4:28 p.m.
Camp American Legion gets speed limit reduction
Camp American Legion gets speed limit reduction
The Oneida County Board of Supervisors signed off on the change from 45 to 35 miles per hour at its September meeting, ending a months-long effort on the part of the camp's new director, Don Grundy, to make the entrace safer.
"It's a tragedy waiting to happen," Grundy told The Lakeland Times in early June.
That was after Oneida County highway commissioner Bruce Stefonek, thinking he could change the speed limit himself, had 35 mile per hour signs posted for a day in late May.
Not even 24 hours later they had to be replaced with the 45 mile per hour signs, as Stefonek realized the change couldn't be done in that manner.
Before the speed limit could be changed a traffic study that could cost as much as $20,000 was needed, Grundy was told.
However, on Aug. 29, Stefonek announced the DOT was recommending lowering the speed limit to 35 miles per hour from 45 miles per hour.
Stefonek had a draft resolution put together by the county board's corporation counsel that upon approval would reduce the speed to 35 miles per hour.
That resolution was approved Sept. 19.
'Keep it reasonable'
The following Saturday, Grundy said he was excited to know the new 35 mile per hour signs would be going up the first part of the following week.
For now, the Grundy sees the reduced speed as a step forward.
"The 35 miles per hour is gonna help big time but it's not gonna solve it completely," he said. "I like that Bruce and the state were willing to talk and look at other options. Reducing the speed is definitely part of it. That's a big part of it but what else can we do to mitigate? You're never gonna eliminate the risk completely."
Grundy said he actually wanted a speed lower than 35 miles per hour.
"I went for 25 miles per hour knowing it would end up at 30 or 35 miles per hour," he said. "I went for what I thought would be the absolute safest."
Grundy said motorists will be doing at least 45 miles per hour coming into what is now a 35 mile per hour zone.
"Then they're supposed to reduce to 25 miles per hour?" Grundy asked. "They're not going to. So, let's keep it reasonable and keep traffic flowing because this is a main thoroughfare."
He said he knows it was frustrating at first for the county.
"But they were willing to stick with us from day one," Grundy said.
Brian Jopek may be reached via email at bjopek@lakelandtimes .com.
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