Motorists who have railed about having to drive 35 mph when leaving Iola’s city limit on State Street have been heard. COMMISSIONERS will decide at next Tuesday’s meeting how much to raise the per-ton charge for trash deposited at the county’s landfill southeast of LaHarpe. IN OTHER action:
Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy asked commissioners Tuesday to raise the limit to 45, to mesh with the legal speed south of Elm Creek and on to where the old highway curves east to U.S. 169. There the limit increases to 55 mph.
For years the limit was 55 from the city limit on south and was changed in 2010 at the behest of Tom Williams, then sheriff and now a commissioner. His motivation was three traffic fatalities in a short span.
“I did it on a guesstimate of what the speed limit ought to be,” William said.
“I think the lower speeds have saved lives,” Williams added. “We had a wreck there (since the change) where one car rear-ended another and I think it would have been a fatality with the 55 mile-an-hour speed.”
Murphy, who was undersheriff when the change occurred, said he thought a lower speed was better, but that 45 was slow enough.
After some thought, Williams agreed, and made the motion to change the 35 mph zone to 45. It passed unanimously.
Bill King, director of Public Works, noted landfill operation expenses had averaged $1.37 million the past three years, while income, from a half-cent sales tax and tipping fees, had averaged about $70,000 a year less. Shortfalls have been made up from reserves.
King said he preferred to stay abreast of need by raising fees a little each year rather than waiting several years and then hitting users with a large increase.
The fee was raised 20 cents in 2011, $1 in 2009 and 50 cents in 2008.
The per-ton charge for 13 southeast Kansas counties ranges from $24.70 to $26.70; haulers from elsewhere pay $51.20 a ton. Allen County residents are not charged.
Last year the landfill took in 31,033 tons, an average of 103 for each of 301 days it was open.
— The Pregnancy Resource Center was given permission to use the bandstand to register runners for a fundraising 5-kilometer run on May 1l.
— Welborn Sales, Salina, had the lowest of three bids at $7,225.40 for about 300 road signs. Most of the signs will be to identify roads, a necessity for emergency responders when they answer 911 calls.
— Decorator Supply, Iola, will replace carpet in the LaHarpe Senior Center for $2,130, which was $15 less than a second bid.
South State speed limit raised to 45
