Hunt expressed concern for school zones at recent City Council meeting

In a regular City Council meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 10, Gatesville City Manager Brad Hunt discussed an ordinance adopting and designating school zones within the city limits to update the proper speed limits and times.

Hunt expressed that the staff at City Hall, Gatesville ISD Superintendent Barrett Pollard, Gatesville ISD Police Chief Gary Stiles, and Interim Police Chief Georg Cleverly all had input on the proposed changes of the school zones and agree that it is important to get them updated.

“They are outdated and need replacement,” he said.

He explained that the changes could be related to the streets around Gatesville having changed some recently.

“As you may know, when you drop off or pick up your child during school hours, there are certain zones that say different times, because it made sense at the time for the school pick up and drop off times for the particular schools in the past,” he said. “However, it is confusing to the general public to know exactly when it is a school zone at cross streets.

It was proposed by Hunt to authorize additional signage on the cross streets coming off Bridge Street and Lovers Lane, before you turn onto Business 36 and if you are coming off North Streets, such as 28^th and 29^th streets, located by Studebakers.

Hunt expressed that this is to warn people that a school zone is pending on the street they are about to turn onto, which would be Main Street and Business 36, because those school zones are so long, and the lights could see some improvement.

“Main Street and Business 36 have the flashing lights from TxDOT, and those work pretty well,” he said.

The street department will place new signs and poles in certain locations in Gatesville, which is estimated to cost under $1,000.

The speed limit designated for school traffic zones will be effective only on school days, when students are in attendance, which includes 7 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Twenty miles per hour school zones:

• South 27^th Street from U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street to Business 36.
• North 26th Street from Jackson Drive to U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street.
• Hornet Way from U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street to Highway 36.
• North Lovers Lane from Jackson Drive to U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street.
• South Lovers Lane from U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street to Business 36.

Thirty miles per hour school zones:

• S. Highway 84 and East Main Street: The entire portion of U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street from the intersection of North 28th Street, westerly to .07 miles past the intersection of Lovers Lane.
• Business 36: The entire portion of Texas State Highway Business 36 from the intersection of South 27th Street, westerly to .07 miles past the intersection of South Lovers Lane.

Any person who is found violating the provisions of the ordinance will be guilty of a Class C Misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $200 per offense.

“I think the additional signage will be good,” Mayor Gary Chumley said. “I have had some complaints for that very reason of people coming off the side streets and realizing they are in a school zone.”

Hunt expressed that upon the third reading, if the ordinance is approved, it will go into effect immediately, and there will be an education period with the school’s police department along with the school district and the Gatesville Police Department to go over the changes that will take place.