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Jackson council votes to discontinue speed-deterrent policy after resident testimony and safety concerns
Summary
After extended debate and resident testimony, the Jackson City Council voted to discontinue the city's speed-deterrent (speed-hump) policy; the measure passed with three in favor and Councilwoman Jeanette Riley opposed.
The Jackson City Council voted July 7 to discontinue the city's speed-deterrent policy, which allowed neighborhoods to request speed humps. Councilman Theodore Patterson moved to end the program, Councilman Don Cook seconded, and the motion passed with three in favor and Councilwoman Jeanette Riley opposed; one councilmember was absent.
City Manager Holly Bailey told the council the program had been stopped previously but that the council never recorded a formal vote to terminate it. Councilwoman Jeanette Riley urged the council to retain the policy, saying she helped draft it and that a test she ran showed speed humps slowed emergency response by only about "2.8 seconds." Riley warned that removing the policy would frustrate residents who had applied under the then-unrecorded rules and asked the council to honor those prior submissions.
Chief Matt Garrison told the council he did not favor speed humps because of concerns about emergency response and vehicle wear, noting his experience as a former firefighter and police officer informed that view. Multiple council members including Patterson and Cook said they opposed continuing the program because of costs and resident complaints.
Several residents testified in favor of retaining speed humps, saying they reduced speeding. John Strickland of S. Oak St. said he was nearly rear-ended at a stop sign; Harrilean Conner and Dolly Carr described measurable safety improvements after humps were installed in their neighborhoods. Pastor Ed Hoard said he opposed installing humps on his street, saying they would penalize law-abiding drivers: "Please don't put any on Hickory Ridge."
The council made the vote under new business after discussion and public comment. The record shows the motion passed 3-1; the transcript does not name each yes vote. The council did not record additional implementation details at the meeting; council members asked staff to follow up on outstanding applications and any necessary documentation.
