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A seemingly open-and-closed decision at Tuesday’s Pella City Council took an interesting turn just before the meeting was to adjourn. Following approval of the third and final reading on an adjustment of the speed limit on a portion of Vermeer Road, discussion with concerned residents and the council took place; resulting in a reversal of opinion on the issue. The ordinance had passed on a four-to-two vote, with councilmen Jim Mueller and Rich Savery voting “no.”

The ordinance changes Vermeer Road from East 8th Street to 240th Place at Vermeer Corporation to a 35 mile per hour zone – which is a change from the current 25 mile per hour zone from East 8th to East 13th, that currently increases to a 45 mile per hour zone from East 13th to 240th Place. The approved ordinance also included the placement of flashing school zone signs, which would reduce the speed limit back down to 25 miles per hour near Jefferson Intermediate School during peak school traffic times.

Despite prior final approval of the ordinance, the Pella City Council is expected to again address the issue of changing the speed limit from 25 to 35 miles per hour at their July 6th meeting.