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New Market leaders respond to woman's safety concerns

Posted at 9:33 AM, Oct 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-30 09:33:58-04

NEW MARKET — One day after a Montgomery County woman called RTV6 about safety concerns on her street, we're getting answers from the people in power.

I don't want them to get hit. I don't want the teachers to get hit. I listen to the teachers scream at the cars to stop. It's nerve racking.

READ | Grandmother wants safety upgrades near New Market school |

Bonnie Hendrickson says she's made numerous requests for safety improvements, like speed bumps or making the entrance to New Market Elementary School a three-way stop. She says her complaints to the town board have gone unheard.

The president of the town board responded to RTV6.

"As in many small towns we've had a lot of signs stolen, and the school zone sign that was at the end of this street, which goes toward the school, has been missing about nine months," Joe Dodds, New Market Town Board President, said. "And to be honest, I've never even noticed it, because I've lived here for 49 years, and I guess that's one thing you take for granted."

Dodds says he talked with the town marshall on Tuesday, and now new school zone and speed limit signs are being ordered.

Hendrickson says she hopes officers can patrol the school zone, but Dodds says that's hard to do with only two part-time officers. He says speed bumps may not be the answer wither.

"The cost was going to be, for two speed bumps ... higher than what it would cost to repair every road in town," Dodds said.

Dodds says with budget constraints as tight as they are, he's going the South Montgomery Community School Corporation will kick in some money to allow a school resource officer to guide students across the street safely.

"I've got two great-grandchildren who go to that school right now, and I don't want to see them get hit by a car," Dodds said.