Brownsboro speed limit reduced
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Vehicles going to and from Brownsboro will need to slow down on the stretch of land between the FM 314 and Highway 31 intersection and Y's Hometown Foods. The Brownsboro City Council passed an ordinance Thursday, November 8, reducing the speed limit in the area to 35 miles per hour from 45 miles per hour.

According to the ordinance, it will "establish a speed limit of 35 miles per hour for the portion of State Highway 31 one tenth mile west of FM 314 to 2 ‰ tenths west of FM 314 for west-bound traffic and from Moss street to one tenth mile before FM 314 for east-bound traffic.

Violations will result in a fine of between $25 and $500.

Brownsboro Police Chief Ron Shields said the change is due to the volume of accidents in the area.

"We had as many as 14 wrecks in the span of two months," Shields said. "Most of the time the accident is cited as a failure to control speed."

Shields said the percentage of speedrelated wrecks in the area is as high as 85 percent.

There would be complaints, Shields also said, about the city of Chandler's speed limit. Automobiles are currently allowed to go around 45-50 miles per hour through the city on Highway 31, and there is no school zone through Chandler's business district.

"They have a left turn lane, we don't," Shields said.

The purpose of the ordinance is not for officers to write more citations, but to curb the wrecks, Shields said.

The speed limit will go into effect as soon as the state installs the new signs.

Ronny Harris, mayor of Brownsboro, covered two more points on the Brownsboro council agenda. One concerned the sale of an old, unused fire truck.

"Larry Everett of Murchison wants to purchase and restore the truck," Harris said.

The council agreed on a $500 starting price, but added it would be possible for the sale to go down to around $300 if purchase at $500 proved impossible.

There was also an agreement to begin seeking quotes in regards to selling the old fire station on Stuart street across from the baseball field. Harris said the council would seek a $25,000 quote.

In addition, the council took action on a possible property donation. It voted to accept the donation of the building behind Y's Hometown Foods across from the railroad tracks if it was offered.