HERMANN — Gasconade County officials have formally adopted a new plan for setting speed limits on its mostly gravel roads – a plan that’s not much different from the one in place for many year.

Under a resolution adopted at last week’s July 11 session, the County Commission will set speed limits and not rely on input from the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Indeed, county administrators Thursday morning took action to approve a 25-mile-per-hour limit on Danz Road and Hafertafe Road, which were two of the county roadways targeted for a lower speed limit that had been submitted to the state agencies some time ago. Commissioners decided to take action after receiving no response from the state agencies.

The County Commission took up the speed limit resolution July 3 during a special session held at the county’s Road Department. However, formal adoption of the proposal was delayed until last week’s session. The county’s policymakers had been discussing a countywide 35-mile-per-hour limit, but it was decided that a uniform speed limit might be seen by some residents as an overreach by county government.

“I don’t think just a blanket (speed limit) for the entire county works,” said Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann. “I’m not comfortable agreeing to anything without talking to legal” counsel, he added.

What the final decision amounts to is the process of setting speed limits on a road-by-road basis will continue. Residents of a particular county road can petition the Commission, by submitting a letter signed by 12 residents along the road, to set a lower speed limit. The speed limit is 50 on roads that have not been approved for a lower speed limit.

As part of the approval of the resolution, the Commission included Danz and Hafertafe roads to be posted at 25 miles per hour. “I think these people deserve an answer,” said Lairmore. “They’ve been waiting months and months” after making their requests, he added.

Lower speed limits have been discussed for years for two primary reasons: Improved safety on the often narrow and curvy gravel roads and as a way to better control dust affecting residents who live along the roads. Residents wanting a lower speed limit on roads in the Southern District should contact Lairmore to submit their requests while residents along roads in the Northern District should contact Associate Commissioner Jim Holland.