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Bluff council adopts townwide speed limit ordinance; Bluff Bench Road remains posted at 50 mph
Summary
Bluff’s town council on March 3 adopted a draft speed-limit ordinance setting a 20 mph default for town streets unless otherwise posted, kept Bluff Bench Road at 50 mph per existing county signage, and discussed a lower speed zone by the school before voting unanimously to adopt the ordinance.
The Bluff Town Council adopted a new speed-limit ordinance on March 3 that sets a 20-mile-per-hour default on town streets “unless otherwise posted,” while leaving the county-signed Bluff Bench Road at 50 mph.
The mayor opened discussion by noting the draft—prepared with staff input—would make 20 mph the town default and retain existing posted exceptions. Council members debated a possible 15-mph zone near the school on Third West; one council member argued a school frontage could reasonably be lowered to 15 mph for safety, while others said 20 mph should remain the default absent a strong rationale.
Staff and council also reviewed a stretch where county signage currently posts 50 mph and pointed to curves that are posted at 40 mph. “I went and drove it and I, like, 50 is a little bit fast, but, like, if you slow down for the curves like they suggest at 40, I thought it’s reasonable,” the mayor said during debate. After discussion, the mayor called for a roll-call vote required for an ordinance; the clerk recorded unanimous support and the mayor announced, “We have passed the speed limit ordinance, and we'll look forward to getting some signs up soon.”
The ordinance as discussed keeps the townwide default at 20 mph, retains Bluff Bench Road at 50 mph per county signage, and leaves open the option to post reduced speeds (for example, a school-adjacent 15-mph zone) where the council or staff determine a strong rationale exists.
The council did not specify an implementation schedule beyond the mayor’s comment about getting signs installed “soon.” Any targeted 15-mph postings discussed for school frontage would require follow-up direction and signage changes by the town.
The ordinance passed by unanimous vote. The council did not record a mover or seconder on the transcript; staff will proceed with sign installation and administrative implementation steps.
