The Burke County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 11 adopted the second reading of Ordinance 25-2, which amends several local speed zones and adds language allowing local limits to be adjusted if the Georgia Department of Transportation changes state highway limits.
The ordinance lowers or clarifies speed limits on several roads — including designating 45 mph for the entire length of 4 Points Road from Story Mill to Old Waynesboro — and leaves authority for changes on state highways to GDOT. The board voted to adopt the ordinance with amendments after discussion about which sections are county roads and which are state-maintained.
County Attorney (unnamed) told the board the local ordinance should include conditional language so that if GDOT lowers a particular state highway segment the county’s ordinance would “mirror” that change rather than requiring the county to run a full two-reading process again. “...it would go into effect your local ordinance would mirror if they make that change, but it wouldn't happen until they do that,” the attorney said during the discussion.
Chairman (unnamed) said he had received calls asking the county to reduce speeds near housing and commercial developments and described the amendment to make 4 Points Road 45 mph along its full length. “I've had several calls asking if we could reduce that and just make it 45 on the whole road,” he said.
Motion and vote: Commissioner Braswell moved to adopt the ordinance with the chair's amendments and the conditional GDOT language; Commissioner Lively seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote with all present commissioners indicating approval.
Why it matters: The change affects motorists and adjacent residents on multiple county roads and clarifies the county’s role relative to GDOT on state highways. The conditional language is intended to avoid duplicative county procedures if GDOT adjusts a state-maintained segment.
What to watch for next: GDOT review of state-highway segments mentioned in the ordinance. If GDOT changes a state limit, the county’s amendment provides a mechanism to reflect that change locally without a separate two-reading process.