(KAIR)--As the new school year begins, meaning increased traffic and student pedestrians on Atchison's north side, the location of St. Benedict Catholic School and Benedictine College, a request is made in the name of safety.

Nearby sits a stretch of the narrow North 3rd Street, with an Atchison resident seeking to see the speed limit reduced. Atchison resident David Bruns, who resides on the nearby M Street, addressed the Atchison City Commission at the start of their Monday meeting, requesting of them to consider the reduction of the speed to 20 mph from Unity to Harper Drive.

The Commission took no immediate action on the request, but the did note the matter would be looked into.

The street, like all other residential Atchison streets not otherwise marked, is 30 mph.

Later in the meeting, Atchison Public Works and Utilities Director, Clinton McNemee, brought another, unrelated matter to the Commission, requesting a more than $80,000 expenditure for valve's needed at the City's Water Treatment facility, explaining that the issue, not expected but necessary, would be resolved through the purchase of the $83,333 valves.

The valve cost was not built into the City's annual Capital Improvements Program, but McNemee told the Commission a sufficient fund balance is found to be on hand to cover the cost, and that waiting to make the purchase would likely mean a higher cost.

Following McNemee's presentation, Commission questions were posed and discussion held, with the Commission approving the expenditure unanimously.