The Village Public Safety Committee heard on Sept. 16 that officers have issued dozens of speeding citations on the stretch of road approaching Main Street and that engine braking is already prohibited under local ordinance and state law. “We are writing literally dozens and dozens of citations,” the police chief reported, adding that officers have deployed radar devices in the corridor to gather speeding data.

Committee members and staff described a complicated jurisdictional map in which the roadway transitions from village to county control within about 88 feet; as a result, the county or state Department of Transportation must conduct any formal speed study or authorize changes to the posted speed limit. The police chief said a speed study is required to change limits and that the village does not have unilateral authority to change county-owned segments.

During discussion the police chief noted options the village can pursue immediately: add engine-braking signage on segments the village owns, continue enforcement, and work with the county to request a formal speed study. “There is an ordinance against engine braking… it's pretty much illegal in every municipality across the state,” the police chief said, and added the village can add signage where it owns the right of way.

Committee members asked staff to start the process of contacting the county. The committee chair was to be copied on the outreach: staff said they would connect the chair with the county contact and that an email would spell out next steps for requesting a speed study or jurisdictional transfer if the village wished to assume maintenance and control.

No formal committee vote was taken to change speed limits or transfer jurisdiction. Instead the group directed staff to: (1) continue targeted enforcement, (2) install engine-brake and warning signage on village-owned segments where appropriate, and (3) coordinate with the county on a speed-study request or potential future jurisdictional changes. Staff estimated repaving and maintenance if jurisdiction were transferred would be a substantial cost and would require village board acceptance.

Those steps reflect a mix of immediate enforcement and signage actions under village control and longer-term options that hinge on county approval and formal traffic engineering studies.