Monday's Internet Edition, January 05, 2009.

Someone, or something, may be watching.

Spencer police now have an extra set of “eyes” along city streets in the form of a new, multifunctional speed limit device.

The city paid approximately $4,000 for the portable equipment, which was initially placed on Williams Drive and East Main Street near Roane County Foodland.

Its base held in place by sand bags, the device consists of an electronic display that lets passing motorists see their speed.

“It’s a great tool to use to notify and educate people that we all drive too fast,” Mayor Terry Williams said during a city council meet Thursday at the municipal building.

In addition to displaying and recording a vehicle’s speed, Williams said the device could also provide license numbers and a traffic count.

During its time on East Main last week, the device recorded 1,500 vehicles between the times of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. It also clocked 18 of those vehicles traveling in the 41 to 50 mph range. The speed limit is 30 mph in the area, and 25 mph on most city streets.

Williams said police would use the device more for education rather than enforcement — at least at first.

“Our intention is not to write 500 citations,” he said. “After we give warnings, we will write citations.”

The mayor said there were at least 25 locations where he planned to have the device placed in the coming days.

“It’s a deterrent, if nothing else,” councilman David Holland said.

Holland and fellow councilmen Cecil Banks, Toby Ford, Pat Lance and Don Williams saw a demonstration of the device, which had been set up outside the municipal building, following the meeting.

Council also:

• Accepted a $500 donation from local resident David Alvis in memory of his daughter, Chrissy, who was killed in a 1999 auto accident near Ripley. Alvis said he wanted to do something to help the city’s beautification efforts. The mayor said he would discuss possible uses for the money with Alvis later, such as installing a new bench, flowerbed or planting trees sometime this summer.

• Formally received a previously announced $10,000 grant from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. The money was applied toward a nearly $30,000 project that installed new filters and pumps at the city swimming pool. Greta Tyler presented the award to pool manager Chris Atkins.

• Learned that a new boat dock was in place at Charles Fork Lake. The dock, which is 50 feet long and 5 feet wide, will be paid for in part by a $1,700 grant from the Little Kanawha RC&D program that has not yet been received. The mayor said a concrete pad would be added when the lake’s water level drops and that an extension to the dock could be made next year.

• Approved the second reading of an ordinance and resolution providing rights-of-way to the Division of Highways for construction of a new Market Street bridge to Front Street. Work on relocating gas lines at the site has already taken place. Officials hope the bridge will be complete by this fall.

• Discussed upcoming events in connection with the city’s ongoing sesquicentennial celebration, including a concert by Trent Tomlinson on Friday, June 27 and a car show by the Classic Steel club on Saturday, July 12. The mayor also said that the citywide yard sale, which took place June 6-7, could become an annual event.

• Learned that city attorney Tom Whittier was planning to take action against a Summit Street resident who is in apparent violation of a new city ordinance by keeping more than three dogs at his residence. The residence is near the new Arnott House bed and breakfast.

The next regular session of city council is scheduled for Thursday, July 3 at 6 p.m.