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Jasper County to move forward with 60 mph limit on county highways; residents press board on Iowa Street safety
Summary
In a June 30 work session the Jasper County Board and County Engineer Mike Frietsch indicated they would move forward with changing county highway speed limits from 55 to 60 mph effective July 1 unless the Board adopts a resolution and orders a traffic study to retain 55. Citizens also urged action on Veteran Affairs appointments and raised safety concerns after a June 29 accident on Iowa Street.
The Jasper County Board of Supervisors signaled during a June 30 work session that it will move forward with changing the county highway speed limit from 55 to 60 miles per hour effective July 1, based on guidance presented by Engineer Mike Frietsch.
Engineer Mike Frietsch told the Board that the speed limit on county highways is changing from 55 to 60 effective July 1; he said, "If the Board decides they don't want to change the speed limit they will need to adopt a resolution keeping it to 55 and then hire a consulting firm to do a traffic study." The minutes note the Board indicated it would like to proceed with the change to 60 mph on county highways. The record does not show a formal vote to adopt the speed-limit change at this meeting.
During the public-comment period, Carroll Wheatcraft, speaking on behalf of other veterans, urged the Board to appoint all new commissioners to the Veteran Affairs Board. Separately, residents from Iowa Street addressed the Board about a June 29 accident on T-12 and asked what options have been explored to correct the street’s lack of an outlet and improve safety. The minutes record those comments but do not show any formal motions or staff directives in response.
The Board also conducted an open-session employee evaluation with Engineer Frietsch later in the meeting; the minutes say Frietsch explained differences between farm-to-market and local roads and that supervisors want the Engineer’s office focused more on routine maintenance such as ditch cleaning and road raising during regrading rather than repeated regrading.
The minutes do not record a formal resolution or ordinance adopting the speed-limit change; they indicate the Board’s intent to move forward. Copies of meeting records and any forthcoming resolutions are on file with the Jasper County Auditor.
