LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — “Eighty-five percent of drivers passing the new speedminder were driving at or below 36 miles per hour, where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour,” said supervisor Gary Maas’ at the February 14 meeting of the Cochecton Town Board. True to product claims, the radar sign flashing vehicle speeds was easy to set up and collected traffic data nonstop, preserving it for town officials to review and analyze.

Knowing that a clear majority of drivers are complying with local traffic law gave the assembled a warm feeling—until Maas read the speeds of the 15% exceeding the posted limit: 50 to -plus miles per hour. Speedminder data shows most of the speeding occurred during weekday afternoon rush hour, between 4 and 6 p.m. Day, date, time and speed of passing vehicles were recorded; in fact, it collected just about everything except driver identity and vehicle registration information. “It’ll tell us more,” said Maas, “after I figure out how to download all the data.”

Having said that it didn’t take a rocket scientist to install it, Maas conceded it will take a savvy end user to extract all information collected. But he’s up for it, as he expects data analysis to indicate specific needs for road maintenance, traffic signage and placement, and driver education. A resident living near the unit’s first deployment said he thought the sign made most drivers slow down automatically. The portable unit will be moved to another location shortly.

Speed demons are sometimes felons. And the news, good and bad, for felons is that construction of the new Sullivan County Jail is well underway. Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff and undersheriff Eric Chaboty recently led a group of local lawmakers, including Maas and deputy supervisor Ed Grund, on a tour of the jail construction site.

Maas said the site plan consists of six pods, one for high-risk populations designed to accommodate 16 inmates, and another larger pod for lower-risk populations of 48-60 inmates. There is also a kitchen, chapel and library without books; what is not on CD and DVD is available via digital download.

But it was the exercise yard that most impressed Maas. Surrounded by high walls unbroken by window or arrows lit and unscalable by design, it will allow inmates to enjoy sunshine, fresh air and room to exercise, but not so much as a glimpse of the world outside. They will see only the small area of sky directly overhead.

Maas noted that the new jail will be a vast improvement on the outdated, overcrowded and unhealthy facility currently in use, also allowing for oversight of inmates by fewer corrections officers. No layoffs of corrections officers are expected, however. The force will downsize slowly by attrition, as officers either retire or voluntarily reassign.

The meeting recessed to 6:30 p.m. on February 27, when the board expects to put finishing touches on its summer-camp zoning ordinance.

A tricky tray fundraiser for leukemia patient Dottie Roycroft will be held at the Delaware Youth Center on March 10. Doors open at 1 p.m. Calling starts at 2:30 p.m.