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Residents press commission for stronger traffic enforcement and safety measures near schools
Summary
Multiple speakers at the meeting raised concerns about speeding, stop‑sign compliance and near misses involving children; the commission heard calls to improve signage, pursue enforcement and consider traffic‑calming measures.
Several residents used the meeting's public-comment period to urge the City of Newberry and the sheriff's office to increase traffic enforcement and to take additional safety measures in neighborhoods and near schools.
Bruce Lisonbee, who said he moved to the area in 1970, described repeated incidents of drivers "rolling" through stop signs, high speeds on neighborhood streets and near-miss events involving children. Lisonbee said Newberry deputies told him they do not carry speed-detection equipment and urged the commission to use its communications channels to launch a public-safety campaign and to mark streets more clearly.
Resident Rosa Campbell also described chronic yard flooding at Northwest Fourth Avenue and said drivers frequently ignore stop signs in that area. Commissioners acknowledged the complaints, discussed the limits of county and sheriff resources, and said they will pursue options including signage improvements, targeted enforcement and traffic calming measures. Several commissioners said they would raise enforcement discussions with the sheriff and explore whether a dedicated patrol or rotating enforcement presence could be arranged.
No formal action or ordinance resulted from the comments at Monday's meeting, but commissioners directed staff to return with options for signage, resident notification and possible enforcement coordination with the sheriff.
