Mahoning Township Supervisors on a 3-0 vote Wednesday agreed to have township solicitor Tom Nanovic draft an ordinance to lower the speed limit on Fritz Road.

The speed limit would be lowered from 35 mph to 25 mph on Fritz Road from Semmels Hill Road to the East Penn Township boundary line.

Board Chairman Robert Slaw and Supervisor Deb McGowan were absent.

The board’s decision comes after McGowan said at last month’s meeting that she didn’t believe that a speed study was warranted there due to the limited number of vehicles that use the road an hour.

Afterward, supervisors tabled any further action on the subject.

In December, supervisors on a 4-0 vote authorized township roadmaster Nevin Frey, along with Supervisor Ron Reeser, who also works on the road crew, to conduct a speed study to see if the speed limit should be reduced.

Resident David Fritz asked supervisors earlier in December to consider lowering the speed from 35 mph to 25 mph.

Supervisor Myron “Zeke” Blahy told Fritz at that time speeding is an issue in many places in the township.

Blahy said the township was working to get a sign that would flash, and told Fritz the board would look into the situation.

In September 2023, supervisors discussed the purchase of a speed detector to crack down on speeding in the township.

At that time, the board discussed a Solar Power radar Sign Matrix Display, which would cost $4,035.

The board agreed to set money aside in this year’s budget for two speed detector signs.

However, they have not been purchased to date.

Board Chairman Robert Slaw said at that time he changed his mind from his previous standpoint on the matter and believes a speed detector would work.

Reeser said he, too, would like to see the equipment purchased.

Blahy said in August 2023 he believes a speed detector could deter some of the township’s problems.

However, McGowan disagreed at that time, and instead suggested that the police department should be out more on the streets.

In June 2023, Blahy said that township police Chief Audie Mertz was checking on prices to buy a radar speed sign to help monitor speed.

Blahy noted at that time that Palmerton had a radar speed sign, and that it had helped them. Slatington Borough has one as well.

Blahy said the goal is for a sign to serve as a deterrent to help slow speeding traffic.

Supervisors have said they believed more police department visibility was the key to cracking down on speeding in the township.

Slaw said trucks in the township have been speeding.

McGowan, who said speeding is also an issue on Seneca Road, attributed the problem to the department’s unmarked vehicles not being as visible.