Lordstown considers putting speed cameras in school zones

LORDSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Monday night, the Lordstown Village Council heard from a company that could put up speed cameras in the village.

The company, Blue Line Solutions, proposed putting the speed cameras in school zones and a five-day speed study was done on Salts Springs Road and Tod Avenue near the schools.

During school hours, 20 percent of people were going 11 miles per hour more than the posted 20 mph speed limit on Salts Springs, and 37 percent were caught doing the same on Tod Avenue, according to the study.

Glenn Branam, of Blue Line Solutions, told Lordstown Village Council that they have an issue with speeding in the village’s school zones.

“I’ve done quite a few speed studies throughout Ohio and that’s approaching pretty high, honestly,” said Branam.

Branam told the council that if it entered into a contract with Blue Line, it would cost the village nothing.

“You’ll never get a bill from Blue Line. You’re thinking well, how in the world can you do that? Well, we do it with a revenue or per-citation share fee,” he said.

The fines range from $100 to $150. The village would get 60 percent of the fine, and Blue Line would receive 40 percent.

Councilman Robert Bond asked about people who don’t pay and when the fines are sent to a collection agency.

“We’re not going to go beating anybody’s door down trying to get money from them,” said Branam.

The money collected by the village can only be used for school safety reasons, but that can range from new police vehicles to repaving the road around the school.

The council did not make a decision and no member gave any indication they supported the idea.

Lordstown council also considered an ordinance banning the cultivation, processing, and sale of recreational marijuana in the village which was sent to a second reading and will be on the agenda at the next meeting.

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