DRAKE — Despite a desire to set a uniform speed limit countywide, the Gasconade County Commission will continue to set a lower speed on county roads in a piecemeal fashion.

In a special session July 3 held at the county Road Department offices in Drake, the Commission did, indeed, adopt a resolution aimed at setting a lower speed limit on the mostly gravel roads. However, out of an apparent concern that some residents might see the move as an overreach by county government, it was decided the uniform speed at the outset would be posted only on a few roads in the Southern District.

Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, said Monday night that residents of other county roads wishing to have a lower speed limit should petition the Commission to set a lower speed limit, which, essentially, is the case now. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit on county roads is 55 miles an hour, as it is on the state’s secondary highways.

But county administrators long have argued that 55 is too fast for the conditions of most county roads, many of which have sections too narrow to accommodate passing vehicles, let alone those traveling 50 or 55 miles per hour.

Also, the standard practice of the Commission requesting approval of a lower speed limit from two state agencies has become an exercise in frustration. There are several requests pending with the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol; some of those requests were filed many weeks ago.

The commissioners opted to handle the matter through a resolution, following the course taken by Osage and Phelps counties. A resolution calling for a specific speed limit does not need approval by the state agencies, Holland said.

There was a lot of discussion on the proposal.

“We hammered it pretty hard,” Holland said, adding that the administrators felt it best not to adopt such a sweeping measure, recognizing that some residents might see it as county government abusing its power.

Lower speed limits are sought by residents for both increased safety and dust control for those living along the nearly-500 miles of gravel roads in Gasconade County.

Meanwhile, the Road Department is back at full strength in terms of personnel. That’s good, Holland noted, because of the repairs needed to the roads after recent heavy rains — downpours that seem to be occurring weekly, prompting road crews to repeat repair work they did in some instances just a few days earlier.