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SALEM -- City council further discussed traffic on South Lincoln in its meeting last week.
The brief meeting was dominated by discussion of a demo speed tracking sign monitoring traffic entering the city that was installed the day prior. City Service Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello said that the unit not only tracks and records any instances of speeding, but the time of the infraction, and categorizes them into groups of up to 10 mph over the speed limit, 10 to 20 mph over the speed limit and more than 20 mph over the speed limit. Cappuzzello said that during the period of roughly 20 hours since the unit began recording it had registered roughly 2,800 vehicles entering the city, of which there had been a single instance of a vehicle traveling over 20 mph over the speed limit, and six instances of vehicles traveling up to 10 mph over the speed limit.
Cappuzzello said that the trial period for the unit could be as long as two weeks, after which a permanent installation would cost approximately $6,800 per unit. Cappuzzello also said that while there is currently only one sign, tracking incoming traffic, the goal for a longer-term installation would be to have two signs, which would allow the city to collect data on both traffic entering and exiting the city.
"We're probably going to be collecting data for almost two weeks just to see whatever trends we have. It's just a measurement in time, but if we decide to move forward, it's necessary to invest in something like that," said Cappuzzello.
Cappuzzello also said that in the short time the unit had been in place he'd already heard from some South Lincoln residents that they had noticed more people slowing down.
"A couple residents sent me emails saying that they noticed people seemed to be braking and tapping; it's just human nature, when you see a flashing sign or you're coming up on it, you're going to slow down or hit your brakes no matter how fast you're going," said Cappuzzello.
Councilman Evan Newman, who has been amongst the voices calling for reduction in the speed limit on South Lincoln, questioned what the cost of lowering the speed limit would be in comparison the installation of permanent units.
Cappuzzello estimated that the material cost of necessary signage for such a change would be less the $500 in addition to labor costs for the installation. However, Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey noted that part of the expense associated with a change to the speed limit would be in enforcement, noting the data collected could help the city determine what times would be best to place patrols for that purpose.
Cappuzzello agreed with Dickey's assessment, explaining that the sign allows for the development of a predictive dataset "based on human nature and what they've done." Cappuzzello said that the expense of the equipment would work to prevent overtime costs and ensure personnel were free for other higher priority purposes.
"You can use $13,000 for overtime, and we put a four-hour patrol there once or twice a week, and you'd use that up in about three months," said Cappuzzello.
Councilman Steve Faber also noted that one of the benefits of the unit is that if needed it can be relocated to other problem area within the city to gather necessary traffic date to inform future action.
"This is something, an asset, that if we decide to move forward with it, we have that. As Mr. Faber noted, we can move around if we have to. It's not cemented into the ground; I think the street department and traffic and safety put it up in less than an hour," said Cappuzzello.
When asked by Councilman Jeff Stockman about the possibility of installing speed cameras within the city to combat speeding issues, Cappuzzello said that while he and Police Chief J.T Panezott "had never gone into a detailed discussion," Panezott had "been pretty adamant" that he was not in favor of the units. Cappuzzello also noted that while such an installation was a possibility, it should be considered carefully, as doing so forfeits access to funding from the Ohio Local Government Fund.
"There's a lot of aspects to consider once you go down that road," said Cappuzzello.
Dickey echoed these sentiments, noting that when East Liverpool made the switch, the decrease in funding the city experienced was so significant "it affected everybody in the county."
During his report, Cappuzzello also provided updates on the ongoing paving construction projects in the city. Cappuzzello said that the paving of state Route 344 remained ahead of schedule, noting that while the project was initially expected to complete Oct. 31, he now estimates paving will be completed "sometime in early October, if not sooner." Cappuzzello also said that the Summer Paving project is still ahead of schedule and that the walkway for Sugartree Alley will be renovated soon, with additional lighting to be installed as part of the city's efforts to promote use of the municipal parking lot on Second Street.
Cappuzzello also announced that the Burchfield Trace Alley will soon become a one-way street.
"Probably by the end of the month we will have that all going one way, so when you make a right-hand turn off South Lincoln you will only be able to go west," said Cappuzello.
Cappuzzello said that new signage will be installed and that the road will be repainted to reflect the change and that "hopefully it will be clear to everybody" when the change is completed. Cappuzzello also noted that once the work is completed, it will be announced through the city's TextMyGov text-line and on the city's social media pages.
Council also approved a renewal of the city's mutual aid agreement with Kent State University. Law Director Brooke Zellers said that in the four years the current agreement had been in place it had not resulted in any instances of police overtime, and that it had primarily allowed for off-duty officers to work events at the university's Salem campus. Zellers also noted that the officers are paid directly by the university for these events so there is no cost to the city associated with them.
A request to allow the city's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area to be in place outside of the normal operating hours was also approved for the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce's Downtown Dining Experience to be held Sept. 19.
During Pleasure of council Councilman Ron Zellers requested any negotiations conducted with Perry Township regarding the temporarily halted annexation of properties with deed restrictions Beechwood Road, Countryside Drive and Hampton Place be done through the committee of the whole so that all members of council are present and may share their opinion.
Newman thanked all of the participants in the recent Star-Spangled Home and Garden Tour for their roles in ensuring that the tour was a success.
Council will not be meeting during the month of August, as both regularly scheduled meetings have been canceled for its annual recess, and will meet next at 7 p.m. Sept. 5.