HBTS traffic concerns being addressed By Yvonne C. Harper HBTSnews.com Holley by the Sea has seen more Santa Rosa County deputies citing drivers for speeding through the subdivision since Sheriff Wendell Hall was given authority to reinstitute a traffic unit. HBTS residents addressed the county commissioners during an Oct. 8 meeting to discuss the increasing traffic issues and threats to public safety in the residential community. “There are 4,700 tax paying lots; 3,000 to 4,000 voters; and 7,000 to 9,000 residents,” said Pete Peterzen, HBTS board of directors president.“The increasing population is causing increasing traffic and threats to safety in our residential community.” Peterzen explained that because HBTS is so large, drivers are tempted to speed, especially on Edgewood Drive, which connects County Road 399 and U.S. Highway 98. “We are asking for county support across the board,” said Peterzen. Pat Traynor, HBTS board vicepresident, told the commissioners that he understood the county budget constraints, but human life is more important than budgets. “(We) don’t care how much money you spend to save one (life), it’s important,” said Traynor.“You’re our leaders and I hope you’ll help us climb this mountain of a problem.” Hall provided the commissioners with facts regarding the number of times his
deputies have gone to HBTS in the last year. “Just last October to now, we’ve been in Holley by the Sea 3,630 times for calls,”Hall said. He said that included alarms, burglaries, civil processes, etc.“... 302 traffic citations have been issued so far.” Hall said that he is still short 19 officers due to budget cuts and he had to stand down the traffic unit that had consisted of four motorcycle officers that worked traffic only. “If you authorize me to do that, I’ll reinstate the traffic unit,”said Hall. During the Oct. 11 board meeting, county commissioners authorized Hall to hire up to four deputies for the unit. The commissioners were unanimous in allowing Hall the discretion to start with two deputies and depending on his budget, the ability to hire two more for the traffic unit. “Rather than us trying to dictate, let’s authorize up to four and let the sheriff in his discretion… start out with two and see where he goes from there,” said Commissioner Lane Lynchard. Hall stated during the Oct. 9 meeting that he could stand the traffic unit back up using funds from his budget, provided the county would provide relief should the cost exceed his discretionary funding. “We’re looking at probably $60,000 per officer (for salary and equipment),”Hall told the commissioners.“We may very well be able to absorb it (the cost).”
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“We can start with two and as the budget year progresses, we’ll know where we are,” said Hall.“We’ll do it accordingly providing our funding is holding, but (we) won’t go over four.” Commissioner Jim Williamson cautioned Hall to start off slow. “We don’t want to have to come back and say we have to cut people,”Williamson told Hall.“Start off slow (and) make sure the jobs are secure so we don’t have to lay people off.” In a follow-up question, Commissioner Bob Cole asked Avis Whitfield, public works director, if he had any information on placing stopsigns in the Holley by the Sea subdivision. “We’re evaluating the intersections that are identified as the busier road ways and which intersections are best suited for multi-way stops,”Whitfield said.“It will take a couple of weeks.” The commission unanimously approved allowing Hall to hire up to four deputies for the traffic unit. In an update, Hall said that his deputies are working HBTS daily with overtime positions. Hall has hired two officers and when they complete field officer training, he’ll have two more deputies to add to patrol which will allow him to standup the twoman traffic unit. “Our presence is being felt and of course it’s definitely making a difference,”said Hall. He added that the traffic unit will work the county though, not just one area.
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