Public commenters praise Harvest Festival, ask for pickleball benches and lower speed limit near Holly Brook Park

Wendell — Public comment at the Wendell Board of Commissioners meeting included a thank-you from the Wendell Chamber of Commerce for the recent Harvest Festival, a request for benches at pickleball courts and a written plea to reduce the posted speed limit on South Hollybrook Road.

Roger Peterson, executive director of the Wendell Chamber of Commerce, told the board the 97th Harvest Festival drew strong attendance and said staff and public-works and police support were key to the event's success.

Pickleball seating: West (Wes) Jones and other speakers noted that new pickleball courts at Wendell Park and Hollybrook Park lack benches and that players currently bring lawn chairs; commissioners and staff said the courts are new and staff will assess seating and safety needs.

Speed limit request: A written statement from resident David Ganzell Sr. asked the town to reduce the posted 55 mph speed limit on South Hollybrook Road to 35 mph, citing pedestrian and park-safety concerns and recent new housing developments. Town Manager Mark Collins told the board that a prior request to the state DOT had been denied, that the town has sought to take over maintenance of the road, and that the town funded a consultant study on converting the roadway to a municipal street section; only after municipal maintenance and ordinance authority would the town be able to set a lower local speed limit.

Provenance: Public comments and manager response recorded during the public-comment period (start 00:14:05; finish 00:19:11).