MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, Ala. - The Magnolia Springs Town Council debated Tuesday at the council work session whether to lower the speed limit in one stretch of County Road 49 to slow down some drivers or to better enforce the speed in the area with a police officer patrolling.

The current speed limit for the part of the road in question is 35 mph, and the council discussed lowering it to 25 mph after traffic studies showed a cause for concern with half of drivers going above 35 mph.

Councilman Bob Holk said the town should do something to slow the speed in that area.

"I think lowering it wouldn't hurt anything," Holk said.

Councilman Brett Gaar thought the solution is enforcement of the speed limit in that area.

"Changing it to 25 mph, I think 95 percent of people would go over," he said. "Enforcement is the way to go."

Councilman Rick Odess said something must be done because "there is a problem." He also thought a method of enforcement would be effective and placing a police car on the side of the road in the area in question would reduce speeds.

"When you see that vehicle stopped on the side of the road, that sticks in your head," Odess said. "I think that our best mechanism is enforcement."

Some council members discussed placing a "traffic island" on the road to slow drivers. Gaar said the island would narrow lanes to around 10 feet and would cause drivers to slow down as they maneuver around the island. Councilman Ken Underwood said the city of Fairhope placed a traffic island on U.S. 98.