BAY MINETTE — After talking about the issue for months, the City Council decided to move forward with placing speed bumps to slow down traffic.

The council broached the issue in mid-January but let the subject drop until the April 1 work session.

“Where do we stand on speed bumps?” councilwoman Dollie Mims asked. “On Ellis Street, a car came by me so fast, I never saw it. I just heard it.”

The council instructed Street Department director Lamar Hadley to get prices so they can take action at their April 15 meeting.

Mims and councilman Chris Norman say speeding is an ongoing problem in their Bay Minette districts, Wards 4 and 5; respectively.

Three months ago, the council debated the merits of the street department building asphalt speed bumps/tables vs. buying premade hard rubber speed bumps that cam be moved. The larger speed table caused problems with some vehicles scraping bottom as they passed over them.

“These rubber ones will slow you down and they are certified for that use,” said Norman.

Councilwoman Kathy Dobbins noted that with any speed bump, there is the risk of a liability claim. “That’s why you put a speed bump there,” she said. “If a car goes too fast, it’s going to cause some damage.”

City attorney Scotty Lewis said that purchasing premade speed bumps that are certified by a national transportation board, along with proper signage, would reduce the risk of lawsuits from car owners.

“A lady on Moran Street called me and said somebody (was speeding) and ran into her yard,” said Norman. “We need to settle on something and get it done before someone gets hurt.”

Police Chief Clarence Crook said Moran Street is the source of numerous complaints of speeding, especially on weekends. He noted the speed bumps would help to slow down traffic.

Moving forward

“This is the third time we’ve brought up the issue,” said Dobbins. “Who is deciding it and how quick can we get going?”

Norman said, “If I’m choosing, I say the rubber ones.”

That quickly, the council went from discussing the matter to deciding to move forward. In addition to Hadley getting prices and installation costs, the council directed the police chief to come up with a list of problem areas.

By choosing the rubber speed bumps, the city can screw them down on a street. Once motorists learn to slow down, the speed bumps can be removed and placed in another problem area.