The Fort Mitchell Safety Committee met on July 22 before the regular city council meeting to discuss potential changes to the city’s speed hump ordinance, which they showed support for and was approved later that night.
The current speed hump ordinance and its lack of efficiency have been on the minds of the council for several months.
“The purpose of this ordinance is to make it a little easier to install speed humps,” city administrator Edwin King said. “Also, for them to be removed.”
The current ordinance complicates the speed hump approval process for both citizens and the council.
“No one has ever actually gotten to use this ordinance,” city council member and safety committee member Kim Nachazel said. “Over the years, people have asked for speed humps, but this ordinance was too cumbersome to do anything.”
City staff reviewed the ordinance to improve it and make it more efficient. King outlined the changes at the safety committee meeting.
“We took out the provision that would require a speed hump to go to the ballot, to be voted on,” King said.
Under the new ordinance, citizens would be able to petition city council for a speed hump. The council then would decide whether to go forward and install it.
Additionally, any member of the council or the mayor can suggest a speed hump location themself for consideration. According to King, the council already has the authority to implement and remove speed humps without petition. However, the language changes to the ordinance have made this more clear.
The new ordinance will also strike the requirement that a street is only eligible for a speed hump if it has an average daily traffic of at least 200 vehicles a day. King summarized other changes made to ensure that the ordinance language reflects current traffic rules.
Mayor Jude Hehman is a proponent of these amendments.
“I am very supportive of this because I am ready to try something,” Hehman said.
Hehman told both council and the safety committee that the new ordinance would empower city government to make choices about speed humps on their roads. He also pointed out that speed humps do not have to be permanent.
“If we make a mistake, it’s correctable,” Hehman said.
Council heard a first reading of this ordinance at the July 22 meeting.
If the ordinance passes, the city would like to install a “raised crosswalk” in front of Beechwood Schools immediately. King explained how much this project, in particular, would cost.
“We don’t have official quotes yet, but we think it will be between $5,000 and $6,000,” King said.
Public Service Director Nick Tewes explained that this number includes all materials to construct the hump or raised crosswalk. Additional signage could cost $200-$300.
Fort Mitchell citizens have consistently asked the city council and the state for increased traffic safety measures, including speed humps. With this petition, council will be able to address those citizens’ suggestions more efficiently.
“We take citizens’ complaints very seriously,” Hehman said. “This is a proactive approach.”