He told the residents the court had tried to educate the public about the problem of speeding on the road in several ways.
The county has done two seperate 10-hour speed checks on the road, set up Drive Smart visual speed radar units son different days, installed large 25 mph traffic signs and had the sheriff's office give out warnings and tickets to speeders.
Results from the speed checks showed that 80 percent of the cars were driving below 40 mph.
Cassity's suggestion that the county continue doing the same thing and keep the pressure on by continuing to write tickets, didn't meet with much approval from the group.
Neighborhood association president Bruce Greinke said educating people was not getting the job done, traffic had continued to increase.
"We've been at this six months or better, and nothing has changed as far as educating people regarding the speed on that road," Greinke said. "The results you got from your study indicate to me at least, that nothing has changed.
"The amount of traffic is the biggest problem," Greinke said. "People who enter on Keene Road and exit on Hwy. 68 have no business going through our neighborhood. Sixty percent of the cars that enter and exit are not residents."
One point of contention between the residents and the court was a study the group had done by the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, a transportation planning group.
The study concluded West Brannon Road met the criteria of a minor urban collector classification, being 40 feet wide, having curb and gutter and sidewalks.
The report sited motorists observed speeding on the road, But not all were people using the street as a short cut, residents were also cited as going over the posted limits also.
On the first page of the study, under existing conditions, the reports said " during the MPO, staff observed motorists driving faster than the posted speed limit of 25 mph, except where vehicles slowed to observe closely-spaced stop-controlled intersections required motorists to stop. Also, it seemed drivers living within the residential development, being familiar with the road, tended to drive faster through the neighborhood."
LAMPO suggested several possible solutions to the problems on the road ranging from narrowing the road, speed bump or tables, traffic islands or other treatments to physically narrow the road, thus slowing traffic on the road.
Greinke said the neighborhood association discussed the LAMPO suggestions at length and tried to come up with what they thought was the best and cheapest option for the county.
"We suggest putting a gate at Keene Road. We're talking about some running barrier across there," Greinke said. "The optimum solution is to close the road. It is the only effective solution, it is consistent with the comprehensive plan, it is consistent with the professional growth plan, it is your lowest cost plan and it is the right thing to do from the safety perspective."
Jessamine County Attorney Brian Geottl questioned the wisdom of using LAMPO's suggestions because he felt like the group had not implemented in Lexington neighborhoods such as the Pasadena area, what they were suggesting be done for West Brannon Road.
"I don't think LAMPO has given us a realistic report because I don't think they are practicing what they preach," Geottl said. "My recommendation to the court is to get a professional engineering study done for West Brannon."
Geottl told the court that making a decision on West Brannon Road relying on unprofessional advice could put the county in the position of having to do the same things to conceivably every road in the county.
Geottl told the group that he thought the problem with the road was a unique enough situation that it warrants additional action by the court to find the most effective way to add safety to the road.
"I don't think putting a gate at the end of the road is going to stop speeding. You might have less traffic but people are still going to speed," Geottl said. "I don't think it is the best solution, but if a professional engineer comes in and says that is the best solution then I can say to the court 'rely on your professional engineer.''
After more than an hour of discussion, the court voted to fund a study by a professional traffic engineer.
Residents asked to have some input into how the engineer was chosen.
Geottl said Cassity could appoint a road committee including representatives from the neighborhood association, who would then make a recommendation to the court on who to hire to do the study.
Goettl said a decision on the choice of traffic engineer should be done by the first August fiscal court meeting.
