City Council Votes on New Speed Limit, Discusses Flags

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – You might soon have to lighten your foot on the gas pedal along a portion of Hankins Road.

The City Council on Monday voted to drop the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph between Filer Avenue and Falls Avenue. Before the new speed limit takes effect, however, the Twin Falls Highway District will need to vote on the proposal.

The district will likely vote in favor of it, said City Engineer Jackie Fields. “The highway department had indicated a willingness to do that,” she said.

The jurisdiction of Hankins Road is divided between the district and city, so both entities must approve the proposal before new signs can go up.

“It’s complicated,” Fields said.

The construction of Pillar Falls Elementary School has prompted the discussion of lowering the speed limit because some parents are concerned about their kids walking to and from school near a 45 mph roadway.

Dan Brizee, who lives in the vicinity and spoke at the meeting, said he drives Hankins Road at least a dozen times a day and agreed that the speed limit should be reduced before a child gets hurt, or worse.

He thanked the council for its part in getting stop signs posted at Hankins and Falls Avenue, but urged the council to “slow the north end [of the road] down.”

Tyler Rand, another resident who lives in the area and who also spoke at the meeting, said he understands the concern from some parents, but asked if a designated school zone would be more appropriate than permanently lowering the speed limit.

Councilwoman Nikki Boyd, who serves as a liaison to the district, said she was very much in support of reducing the speed limit.

The other council members in attendance were, too. The motion to reduce the speed limit to 35 mph passed 4-0; three council members were absent from the meeting.

Flags in the City
The council also heard a request to install a flag pole at the future City Hall, and for the city to add the national and state flags and the POW/MIA flag at the new City Hall, police and fire stations, and airport.

Cliff Lockhart, director of the Magic Valley POW/MIA Awareness Association, explained the proper protocol when displaying flags, saying the POW flag should fly below the national flag, followed by the state flag.

Flying the POW/MIA flag will “give respect to our returned veterans and the unreturned veterans we’re still waiting to bring home,” Lockhart said.

Mayor Shawn Barigar said the city had already considered placing flag poles in the commons area across from the new City Hall, but that the city would firm up its plans on the placement of the flag poles. He also said the county is working on developing a flag, which may affect the council's decision on what flags to place at certain sites.

After a request to add a POW/MIA flag in the Council Chambers, Barigar said he would look into the possibility of making that happen.

Next Council Member
Barigar also said at the meeting that he is in the process of reviewing applicants for the City Council position to replace Councilman Don Hall when he resigns in January. Hall was recently elected to a seat on the County Commission.

The mayor will present his recommendation to council members at the Dec. 5 meeting, he said, and the new member will be announced the following week, on Dec. 12.