A formerly sleepy street that is now in the center of commercial development has a speed limit and new traffic sign following Monday evening’s meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen.

The board unanimously approved the addition of a stop sign and establishment of a speed limit on Nina Drive near the construction of the USA Drug. The new stop sign will be on the northbound lane of Mallory Street as it intersects with Nina Drive.

A 20 mile per hour speed limit will also be posted on Nina Drive.

“I met the other day with the parents at the state school,” said Mayor Joe Weber. The school is he Crowley Ridge School for severely disabled children. “They expressed some concern.”

The board approved changes and tabled potential amendments concerning the city’s liquor license regulations.

The first ordinance approved concerning alcohol sales changes the requirement on the proximity of businesses selling liquor to a school, church or place of worship.

The previous local ordinance established a distance of at least 300 feet between the business and school or church. This distance is greater than the state regulation, which is currently set at 100 feet.

“I propose we get in line with the state law and change the ordinance to 100 feet,” said Ward III Alderman Kirby Taylor. The change in the local ordinance was approved on a vote of 4-1-1.  Taylor, Ward I Alderman Terry Battles and Ward II aldermen Kent Essner and Tim Aslin in favor of the change; Ward I Aldermen Jerry Corder voted against the change; and Ward III Alderman Ray Pixley was not present for the meeting.

A second ordinance dealing with the number of liquor licenses issued by the city was tabled.

A group of local residents on South Mulberry (south of Grant Street) attended the meeting to discuss concerns with water control issues in the neighborhood. Local resident Jim Smyth was the spokesman for the group who explained the problems experience by homeowners in the neighborhood.

Weber and City Administrator Mark Stidham agreed that Stidham and the city engineer would meet with Smyth and the neighbors to find a solution to the situation.

In other business Monday evening:

• City Administrator Stidham announced the official time for Halloween trick-or-treaters in Dexter is from 6-10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31;
• Keller Library Director Pam Trammell announced the genealogical group would sponsor a genealogical workshop on 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29.