An Open Letter to Sheriff Peyton Grinnell and Sheriff William Farmer:
My husband and I live in The Villages at 265 Olanta Drive. Our home backs up to County Road 100 or Cherry Lake Road. The speed limit is 35 mph in Sumter, yet when you are about 11 houses up in Lake County (along the fence) the speed limit is 45 mph then at the hairpin turn it is 10 mph then all the other roads are 35 mph. Like Rolling Acres and Micro Racetrack.
This road is a constant speed violator area. We even had a death on this road, which started in Sumter and ended with a death in Lake County.
The 45 mph limit in Lake can’t be right for a small stretch and it is offering people a greater chance of speeding. I can tell you that rarely does a car go by our back yard doing 45 much less 35 mph.
While each can say they can’t control the other county, surely you both can work on this and get the speed limit the same 35 mph like all other roads around and crack down on speeders?
We have school buses speeding, people in the morning, nighttime occasional let’s see what this baby will do, and crotch rockets love this road. You both simply need to get the speed limit situation settled and send patrols out.
There will be another fatality: myself along with my neighbors are sure of it. I call the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and they say they will send someone out, but it is of no use if it isn’t consistent.
We are only around the corner from the Sumter County Sheriff Office. Surely, we can make this a priority.
Yes, I vote, if you want to look it up and yes, my neighbors vote and agree. I wanted to send this to you both and plead for your help. If it is necessary to get a petition from each neighbor up and down this road in both counties I will, but it might take me some time. Time perhaps some kid or someone late for work doesn’t have because you did not patrol often.
Nancy Jordan Blackmore is a resident of the Village of Caroline.
