Proposed ordinances to prohibit the use of engine brakes and to reduce the speed along U.S. 54 within the city limits drew a full house Tuesday night at the Holts Summit Board of Alderman meeting.
Both proposals were removed from the agenda for consideration, but residents still spoke on the issues.
The proposal to reduce the speed limit on U.S. 54 from 70 mph to 60 mph within the city limits drew negative remarks from those attending, who said the officials should be working to improve the condition of the roads instead of reducing the speed of the highway.
Five people spoke against the proposal.
Mayor Landon Oxley said the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Transportation had said "there's a 99 percent chance (speed limit reduction) would not happen." So the proposed change would have been fruitless, he said.
The proposal to prohibit the use of engine brakes, or "jake brakes," that "result in excessive, loud, unusual, or explosive noise" within the city limits also was removed from the agenda.
In other action, the board was asked to complete an unfinished section of sidewalk along Halifax Road.
Holts Summit resident Ramona Huckstep said she is concerned for the safety of her neighbors - and her daughter who runs on the side of the road to practice for cross country - who walk alongside the road.
"Tonight, I'm putting my 'citizen' hat on," said Huckstep, who mentioned there are also buses and people with disabilities who use the road and could use the safety of a sidewalk. "It would be better if there was a safer walkway for them."
The current sidewalk is .3 miles, and she asked if the city could extend it another .6 miles. Huckstep also estimated extending the sidewalk would cost about $500,000, but also mentioned the newly-passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - of which Holts Summit would receive $808,000 - could possibly help with infrastructure costs.
Callaway County Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann, while reviewing progress reports with roads, bridges and jail infrastructure in the county and the city, mentioned stimulus funds as well, but said the money the city would be receiving couldn't be used on some infrastructure, as it would only apply if there was an overall revenue loss.
Street and Parks Department Superintendent Mark Tate said the sidewalk extension is part of the city's five-year plan of repairs. Jungermann said the county jail is working to become an accredited facility to possibly help with costs.
In other business:
- An ordinance that will authorize competitive bids for banking services, which was first read last month, was further discussed and approved. The contract calls for a yearlong position providing banking services for the city, dealing with bank accounts and the keeping of city funds.
- Sewer Superintendent Keith Edwards discussed the closing of Choctaw Lagoon, a project that has been years in the waiting. The lagoon will still require upkeep (doing monitoring tests, sampling when there is rain or snow and mowing during the summer), but its closing would save the city $3,000-5,000 in maintenance and testing funds, he said. The board approved the project, which is estimated to cost $30,000-$50,000.