David Beard, who owns a home on Mill Hill Landing Road in the South Bryan subdivision Strathy Hall, said he is taking a stand against speeders in his subdivision.
Beard took the podium at Tuesday’s Bryan County Commission meeting and asked for help in his mission to slow vehicles down in his neighborhood.
He said the nearly constant flow of drivers exceeding the speed limit is a threat to the lives of children and pedestrians in the neighborhood, and he has seen some close calls. He said it has already caused a lot of property damage in Strathy Hall.
"They’ve destroyed countless road signs and mailboxes by veering out of control at a high rate of speed," Beard said. "I’ve lost six mailboxes. One of my neighbors lost nine (mailboxes) while the other lost seven … I have been run off the road, right into the ditch … I’ve seen them pass the school bus in the mornings when they’re stopped to pick up children."
Beard said the violations are most rampant during the morning and evening commute hours. He assumes it is people rushing to get to work and encourages those coming through his neighborhood to allow more time as to avoid a rush.
Beard said the problem is compounded by the large numbers of golf carts being driven by children that drive through the neighborhood. He said he has witnessed speeding vehicles veer off the road to avoid the carts, "which sometimes are filled with six to eight children. I’ve seen carts driven by kids that can barely see over the steering wheel." He also said there are two "dead man" sharp curves in the neighborhood, which elevates the situation.
Beard said he had previously spoken to Sheriff Clyde Smith and County Administrator Phil Jones about the problem. Beard said random radar speed checkpoints were discussed, but he has yet to see them in the neighborhood.
"Public safety is our number one concern, so we need to come up with something to alleviate this," Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed said.
Commissioner Toby Roberts spoke of how the disappearance/destruction of mailboxes and street signs is also attributed to theft and vandalism, which he said is a problem in many neighborhoods throughout the county. Roberts also discussed the possibility of adding speed bumps in Strathy Hall.
Sheriff Smith, who was in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting, and the commissioners discussed bulking up the presence of officers in the area as well as replacing missing street signs.
In other business:
- Jones said Commissioner Blondean Newman missed the meeting and will probably be hospitalized for about a month as she recovers from an infection during a recent knee replacement surgery at Candler Hospital.
- Stephanie Morrison was appointed to the Library Board. She replaces Paul Boyette, who just wrapped up his second term.
- County Engineer Kirk Croasmun said the county is conducting drainage projects on Clarktown Road, Waterford Landing, Davis Village and Daniel Siding Loop Road – and each is going smoothly.
- Croasmun said the project to extend water and sewer services to Blichton is progressing. Utility easements have been sent to property owners to begin the acquisition phase.
- Croasmun said the construction of the new county administrative complex on Hwy. 144 is on schedule, and the foundation was poured this week.
- Bryan County Drug Coalition Director Bill Collins said the newly-formed organization is "ahead of the curve" in its plans to bring projects to local youth to make them aware of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Burnsed commended Collins on his work and called the Coalition "a tremendously important project."