City Councilman Gary Haak proposed to raise the speed limit on 15th Street in Dell Rapids during the City Council meeting on Monday, July 7th.
“There is nobody crossing the street, there are no houses across the street from the water tower, there is a sidewalk for kids to walk on and no kids crossing it, and there are flashing lights by the school to drop down to 15 mph,” said Haak during the discussion.
City Administrator Justin Weilaind mentioned, “Turning sight distances (on 15th street) were designed for 35 mph, because the speed limit is 25 mph. If you raise the speed limit to 35, people will drive 40 or 45 potentially, so you want a 10-mile threshold on that sight distance requirement. I’d be a little careful about going to 35, because of the sight distances.”
City Councilman Mark Crisp added, “The people of my ward don’t think it’s a good idea, the school doesn’t think it’s a good idea….you know, if it’s the high school, maybe, but it’s our grade school.”
After discussion, Haak made the motion to increase the speed limit to 30 mph on 15th Street. City Councilman Chad Andrews seconded the motion. The motion passed by a 4-3 vote, however, Mayor Scott Fiegen stated his intention to veto the action. Councilmen Crisp, Lee Burggraff, and Paul Miles voted no on the motion.