Speed limits continue to be a contentious issue for the members of Estevan city council.
A lengthy debate broke out during Monday's regular council meeting over a bylaw dealing with reduced speed limit zones.
The first part of the two pronged bylaw called for the removal of the time tabs on signs in reduced speed limit zones. In the past the reduced speed limit zones, which are primarily found around schools and playparks, were in effect for a limited time, usually during school hours.
However, with more and more children using the school parks outside of regular school hours, the decision was made to put the reduced speed limit zones in effect for 24 hours a day, forcing motorists to drive 30 kilometres an hour in those areas. Not surprisingly there was little debate over the first part of the bylaw as all six members of council - Councillor Lynn Chipley was absent - voted for the change.
Things did not go quite as swimmingly during the debate on the second portion of the bylaw which called for the reduced speed limit zone on Wellock Road to be extended from Victory Road all the way to Souris Avenue.
After listening to Mayor Gary St. Onge go through the first two readings of the bylaw, Councillor Roy Ludwig awoke and questioned the need to extend the zone for what would be the majority of Wellock Road.
Ludwig, who noted he drives on Wellock Road at least twice a day, said he didn't feel the extension was needed and felt the current zone, from Victory Road to Wellock Road was sufficient. He added that by extending the zone, the City was setting a precedent that could eventually lead to a speed limit of 30 km/hr throughout the entire city.
"Are we ready for 30 km/hr throughout the entire city? I don't think so," said Ludwig who noted that such a change might be OK in a city such as Weyburn where the population is much older but not in a young, bustling community like Estevan.
The veteran Councillor's comments touched off a lengthy debate.
Both Councillors Chris Istace and Dennis Moore said they were in favour of the change, noting that far too many motorists speed down Wellock Road. Istace also added that many of the residents on Wellock had requested the change.
Councillor Brian Johnson also chimed in on the debate and said he too was against extending the zone further. In what has become his norm, Johnson also requested that the City consult with residents of the area to see what they would like to happen.
With no end in sight to the debate, city clerk Lyndon Stachoski mercifully informed council that instead of scrapping the bylaw all together, council could vote to amend it.
Ludwig then made the motion to have the reduced speed limit zone run from Victory Road to Nicholson Road which was passed by a 5-1 margin with Councillor Rodney Beatty the lone dissenter. It was also decided that a survey of Wellock Road residents would be conducted by mail.
Speed limits have been a hot button issue for the past year in council. In 2009, the members of council appeared ready to reduce the speed limit in Estevan's residential areas to 40 km/hr but changed course when a number of citizens said they weren't in favour of a change.
