by Geoff Fox
Town and state officials are still working out whether Hancock will get a second school zone speed camera, or where it might be situated.
Almost a year ago, temporary speed cameras were installed near Hancock Elementary and Hancock Middle-Senior and in March of this year, the permanent cameras were installed at the schools.
One thing that was discussed when the Town of Hancock entered into the agreement with RedSpeed was whether or not cameras could be placed along Main Street near the United Methodist Church because of Good Shepherd Preschool.
Earlier this summer, two boxes that looked like speed-readers were placed in that immediate area for a couple days as part of State Highway study to see if that section of Main Street would warrant the camera.
Those readers have since been removed. Town officials have talked about adding cameras along High Street for the same reason, as Good Shepherd uses High Street to get to the playground by Town Hall.
Officer Shawn Faith told town officials the study was done so the state could prove RedSpeed’s need to put a camera in that area of Main Street.
Town Manager Mike Faith did say it was a long process for the study.
While the speed wasn’t shown on the boxes, there was a flash, which then caused drivers to slow down.
Councilman Josh McCusker asked about the process to get a camera on High Street, which the town owns from about Methodist Avenue eastward. The state owns High Street from U.S. 522 to Methodist Avenue.
Officials argued the camera on High Street is needed because Good Shepherd uses the sidewalks along that street more so than the one on Main Street.
“I think the speeding on High Street is worse than it is on Main Street,” McCusker said.
Faith, who lives on High Street, said people heading west on High Street get freeway speed just about in front of his house.
Faith said on Monday he wasn’t sure if the town would actually get cameras on Main Street, High Street, or both.
“I think we would like to see speed cameras on both, but the state may not allow it,” he said.
If the town were to just get one set of cameras, Faith said the state might just do Main Street because Good Shepherd’s address is a Main Street address.
Faith also said there is the possibility the state could come back and, as a result of the study, say there is no need for a camera on Main Street near Good Shepherd.
“It’s pretty early on in the process,” he said.
