By Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region Township could soon own a speed detecting sign.
Council was advised the OPP wanted to get out of the business of operating the speed detecting signs by having the municipalities take over that task. Whitewater Region Township is part owner of a speed sign, but doesn’t believe it would be able to afford to purchase the sign from the other municipalities.
The public works committee agreed to recommend to council that it set aside just under $11,000 to purchase three radar speed/traffic count machines. The discussion took place during a committee meeting Wednesday.
Public works manager Bill Misener provided council with information regarding the information various signs can provide.
Mr. Misener said companies provide this type of technology. He looked at two, which are similar. These signs would provide a speed board sign that can be moved easily throughout the municipality.
There are various statistics the sign can report, such as time of day, speed and traffic counts, he noted. For example, if someone said there is speeding on Rapid Road, Mr. Misener can hook up the sign and for the first week, leave the speed light off. However, the information would have been gathered and it can prove or not people were speeding. The following week, the sign could be turned on, which would allow people to see their speed, and if they are going too fast, they will slow down.
If it’s proven there is a problem in a certain area, the OPP can also be notified and asked to pay attention to a certain area during a certain time, he added. And, if there isn’t speeding, Mr. Misener can show the report to the person who is complaining to show the vehicles aren’t going as fast as they think.
If purchased, these machines would also replace the rubber hoses that are used for traffic counts that are vandalized, which means there is no traffic count, he said.
The technology would also allow Mr. Misener to pull up to a sign and the collected information would download onto his computer without any hook-up.
Chief administrative officer Christine FitzSimons noted this sign would not have to be tendered, because it’s within the purchasing bylaw limits.
Mr. Misener said he would purchase one and if it works well, more could be purchased.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin questioned if there were concerns with vandalism.
“It’s a great idea, but it’s a large cost and we don’t want vandalism,” he said.
Mr.Misener said the signs are in a steel box that would be hard to vandalize.
Councillor Cathy Regier said once the information is gathered, she is hopeful it will be passed onto the OPP if necessary.
“If we’re going to proceed and put this cost out, I think it will be critical that we do the final follow-up with the OPP,” she said. “There’s no sense in putting out a sign if we’re not going to communicate back that this is what’s happening at a certain time. It’s critical that we follow that through. We need to complete the full circle.”
The committee unanimously passed the motion to recommend up to $10,660 be put towards three speed signs in 2015.
