Missoula County establishes permanent 20 mph school zone at Cely Lake Elementary

The Missoula County Board of County Commissioners on April 9 approved a resolution establishing a permanent 20 mph school zone on portions of Pine Drive and School Lane at Cely Lake Elementary School.

Eric Dixon of the Missoula County Public Works Department told commissioners the school requested clearer signage after community concern about the existing speed limits and visibility around the elementary school. He said school and community council support for the change was unanimous and described the resolution as an opportunity to upgrade signage and allow enforcement with penalties up to double the normal fine in school zones.

Christina Hartman, identified in the record as a superintendent, told the board she supported a year‑round, full‑time school zone for the site and thanked staff for working on the request. "I appreciate working with Eric and helping us notify that this is a school zone," she said.

A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution; another commissioner seconded the motion. The board approved the measure by voice vote with no roll‑call tally recorded in the transcript.

The resolution directs staff to implement a current‑standard signing plan and allows the sheriff's office to enforce the school zone speed limit. The staff presentation noted the change would improve driver awareness of the elementary school, which has high parent, bus and pedestrian activity. The resolution was presented as an upgrade to existing signage and a permanent 20 mph limit rather than a temporary or limited‑hours reduction.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the signing plan and coordinate enforcement with the sheriff's office as described in the resolution.