Only a formal policy and a public hearing remain before residents will be able to petition Warren County supervisors to add speed humps in residential neighborhoods under county maintenance.

A draft policy by county engineers would allow a resident or group of residents to apply for so-called “traffic-calming measures,” then wait for engineering reviews and maps of affected areas. If criteria are met, at least 80 percent of residents in the area must also sign a county-drafted petition within 60 days for devices to be built. After a year in service, an equal percentage of residents may petition the county for removal.

Specific measures other than speed humps such as mini-traffic circles might also be considered with the pace of construction to be dictated by available funds, according to the latest draft. A formal presentation for supervisors is expected by county engineers before the 2009-10 budget is adopted in September.

To be determined in the official policy includes eligibility of votes in the petitioning process — whether individual votes or one vote at each household in affected areas will count toward the 80 percent. Also expected in the final draft is whether votes from rental property will be counted from tenants or from property owners.

Traditionally, requests for such measures have come from areas close to major roads. In the past, supervisors have shied away from the concept, citing liability if vehicles are damaged.

Letters from residents prompted the current board to consider the idea seriously, though none have spoken to the full board publicly.

“The more people that want it, the better chance you have of it working out in the area,” District 4 Supervisor Bill Lauderdale said.

Requests for less labor-intensive measures such as stop signs continue in areas such as Openwood, District 1 Supervisor David McDonald said, adding the percentage may need to be lowered.

“That’s the only thing I’m not sure about,” McDonald said. “It needs to be 51 percent, but I don’t know if 80 percent might be a little high.”

As planned, the policy would be a bit more stringent than Jackson’s rules on traffic calming devices.

Affected areas there must support the idea with at least 75 percent before any devices are built.

At about $3,000 each, speed humps would have the lowest installation costs and can be styled either long or short, according to county engineering firm ABMB Engineers Inc.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vickburgpost.com