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Residents press for rumble strips after child hit; county weighs rumble strips, speed humps or road closure
Summary
Commissioners discussed a petition (reported at more than 100 signatures) requesting rumble strips on Colesburg Road after a child was struck; officials explored options including centrally placed rumble strips, speed humps (which the county previously moratoriumed), rotating flashing radar signs, enforcement windows, and the legal/engineering complexity of closing the road; the court deferred a final decision and will study options further.
A prolonged discussion about Colesburg Road safety dominated the meeting after commissioners reviewed a neighborhood petition asking for measures to slow traffic following an accident in which a child was hit.
A commissioner noted the petition has more than 100 signatures and said residents are primarily asking for centrally located rumble strips near houses where children play. "They're asking for rumble strips to be placed more centrally located where the children are out playing in front of the yards," the commissioner said.
Other commissioners cautioned that speed humps pose maintenance, emergency‑response and noise issues; the county previously placed humps and later imposed a moratorium on new humps because of problems. One member relayed concerns about 2:00 a.m. noise from rumble strips and general maintenance needs. Officials discussed enforcement options and data collection; one commissioner referenced a radar study showing isolated very high speeds (the highest recorded speed noted in the discussion was 72 mph) and said mobile enforcement windows could target peak violation times.
Staff said rumble strips are relatively inexpensive and can be added in targeted locations, while constructing cul‑de‑sacs to close the road would require survey work, acquisition of right‑of‑way (which might include negotiating with local churches), and significant expense. "You can't take somebody's road — you take the value of their property," one official said when discussing the legal and property implications of closing a road.
Officials reviewed alternatives such as rotating flashing radar trailers that collect speed data and call attention to the limit; one commissioner estimated those units cost roughly $6,000–$10,000 depending on government pricing and whether permanent units are used. Several participants emphasized that no single measure will eliminate dangerous driving but that a combination of signage, targeted rumble strip placement, enforcement windows, and community awareness could reduce risk.
The court directed staff to continue studying options, consult with the sheriff about rotating enforcement resources and radar trailers, and return with specific, feasible recommendations at the next monthly meeting. County members emphasized caution about opening liability by promising outcomes residents may expect from installations that, in practice, do not fully prevent dangerous driving.
