WILMINGTON — Should the speed limit on Prairie Avenue stay at 25 mph, or should it be 35? That was one of the discussions during Thursday’s council meeting.
Council member Joe Spicer, Streets Committee chairman, said that they’ll formulate a recommendation on what to do in regards to Prairie Avenue.
“We’ve discussed this in committee quite a bit. Basically, the speed limit now is 25 miles per hour. It doesn’t get to 35 until you get past Lowes Drive. The recommendation (from the engineer’s report) was that we increase (the speed limit on Prairie) to 35,” said Spicer.
Spicer stated that he agrees with the report, but said Police Chief Duane Weyand thinks it should stay the same. Spicer said others think it should be changed, but also noted that residents of Prairie Avenue don’t want it to change.
Several Prairie residents were at the meeting to oppose the speed increase. Joan Allen spoke to council saying that if the speed limit were to increase, drivers would go even beyond that new limit.
“They are going 40 and 45 miles now. Unless you guys live on Prairie Avenue, you guys really don’t know. Traffic is one thing, speed is something else,” said Allen.
Allen recalled an incident that happened to her on Monday when she was crossing the street to get her mail.
“I made it three-quarters of the way across and here comes this other car. She didn’t even see me,” said Allen.
An officer was nearby and took a report of the incident. Spicer said that the comments and input will be taken into consideration at the next Streets Committee meeting.
Also during council:
• Mayor John Stanforth read a proclamation designating the week of May 15-20 as Police Week. This coincided with Peace Officer Memorial Day on May 15. Police Chief Weyand was there to accept the honor.
• During his report, Stanforth said that the City of Wilmington will be launching a new website in a couple months. According to him, there will be a mobile app for it.
• The third and final readings of two ordinances took place during the Streets Committee report. Both ordinances made amendments to the Traffic Control Map and Control File. The first one includes adding two crosswalks at the intersection of Elm and College Street and various no parking sections. The second makes Applegate Street a one-way street from Columbus Street to Rombach Avenue. Both ordinances passed.
• Council held the first reading of an ordinance that would remove a parking space located on the east side of North Mulberry Street. The second reading will take place at the next council meeting.
