ORRVILLE — Louvenia Lumpkin led her first Orrville Town Council meeting as mayor Monday, and after being sworn in by Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard, the council members and Lumpkin got down to business.

“We’re going to talk a little bit tonight about that speed limit,” Lumpkin said. “I know most of y’all probably go to the post office or that Dollar General store and see the traffic that goes up and down the road. They really don’t pay the speed limit any attention, so that’s something we really need to work on. Get that speed limit lowered and get some signs out there for them to see.”

Albert J. Riddle who has worked at the road planning organization for the state in Camden agreed.

“I’ve been talking to the mayor and Rex Thompson (ALDOT district manager for Dallas County) in regards to lowering the speed limit from 35 to 25, just in the Orrville area,” Riddle said. “[Thompson] said it’s up to you all to agree on that, and then he will get the paper work and get Montgomery to work on it.”

The council discussed the accidents record on the stretch of Alabama State Road 22 that goes through town. The speed limit is currently 35 miles per hour, but with little help to enforce the law, vehicles often barrel through town at much higher speeds.

“I feel like that’s a safety issue and that should be everybody’s business. There are people crossing 22 at [County Road] 33 going to that Dollar General and trucks — you know how they come through there,” Riddle said. “I think we should act on something, before something drastic happens.”

“I’m all for the speed limit being lowered,” council member Jewel Williamson said, “but we have got to find some way to enforce it.”

The council discussed past failed attempts to get grants to help enforce the law and to hire a police officer and the fact state troopers come and go to quickly.

Riddle said if the council votes to lower the speed limit, Thompson has promised to help enforce it.

“The accident report is what the state looks at and that’s a state highway, which makes Orrville good [because] we have a lot of accidents out here,” Riddle said. “A few years ago I believe [we had] a fatality or two, so the record stands whereby a promise that if we can get together as an Orrville town, and get to Montgomery, Rex Thompson will help us.”

The council made a motion to give Riddle permission to speak on their behalf and do whatever is necessary to get the speed limit lowered if the state will provide the signage.

“Like I said, safety is everybody’s business, and who knows whose life it may take with a big truck coming through here 60 miles an hour,” Riddle said.