West Cornwall supervisors consider options to address speeding in Quentin

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West Cornwall Township supervisors are considering another approach to slowing down motorists as they drive through Quentin: movable, solar-powered speed limit signs.

With movable signs, the township can target specific streets such as North Zinns Mill and North Cornwall roads where speeding occurs frequently, supervisors said at their meeting Monday. The signs would be in addition to police surveillance.

“We’ve been fighting speeding in Quentin for 10 years,” said chairman David Lloyd at the supervisors’ meeting Monday, May 11. “People come up over the hill a-humming and down the hill a-humming.”

Besides investigating speed limit signs, the township plants to paint crosswalk lines on a number of streets, Lloyd said. Some streets will also have turning lanes indicated.

“That’s out for bid right now,” he added.

Supervisors noted that PennDOT work on nearby state Route 72 has prompted some motorists to seek shortcuts through Quentin in order to avoid congestion and stop-and-go traffic. Once paving of Route 72 gets underway, traffic could become even heavier through Quentin, they said.

Supervisor Russ Gibble said residents who have contacted him feel as if nothing is being done about their traffic and safety concerns.

Lloyd disagreed, saying, “Things are underway — new striping, movable speed limit signs.”

In his update on the West Cornwall Township Municipal Authority, Jeff Steckbeck said the authority’s negotiations committee has met with the Quentin United Church of Christ about drilling a test well at the northeast corner of its property at the intersection of Route 72 and Main Street.

The authority currently has three wells but is searching for a supplemental source in a different aquifer in case of a drought or issues with the currently used aquifer. A test well drilled on the Quentin Mennonite School property has been abandoned because of elevated nitrate levels and underground voids.

Steckbeck, who also serves as the township’s engineer, said paving and striping of the parking lots at the township’s 67 W. Main St. property will go out for bid in the next month. Supervisors have yet to decide whether the property at the corner of Zinns Mill Road and Route 419 in Quentin will have parking meters.

“The question actually is what to do with the building itself and how will we manage it,” said Lloyd, who added making it a community center is one option.

Supervisors purchased the historic building about two years ago. At that time, supervisors noted the property could potentially provide about two dozen parking places for visitors, residents and shoppers.

Bids also are being prepared for upgrades to the playground in the Scenic Ridge development, Lloyd said. Planned are new play structures with shade as well as two pickleball courts.

Supervisors approved expenditures of $19,886.67 from the general operating fund, $10,000 of which was the township’s contribution to First Aid and Safety.

West Cornwall Township supervisors meet at 73 S. Zinns Mill Road on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, June 8. These meetings are open to the public and do not require registration.