Truman alters local speed limit

TRUMAN — There was discussion Monday night at the Truman City Council meeting regarding lowering the speed limit in town.

Council members heard a report from Police Chief Justin Jobe regarding state laws, and several options were provided. Right now, the speed limit is 30 mph throughout town, but council members agree there seem to be a lot more young children outside and 30 mph seems too high in some areas.

It was agreed to lower the speed limit to 20 mph around both St. Paul’s Lutheran and Truman Public School zones. The speed limit also will be 20 surrounding Graf Park. The speed limit will remain at 30 throughout the rest of the town for the time being.

In another matter, the council accepted a donation of $1,757 from the Truman days raffle from the Truman Baseball/Softball Association. The board will donate the money to the Truman Days Committee in the same amount as an approved expenditure for a community festival.

The board also accepted a deed to the park, formerly know as Jaycee park, from the inactive Truman Chamber of Commerce.

County installs pay phone

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An eastern Minnesota county has installed a pay phone in its government center.

The landline was installed this month in Minneapolis following Hennepin County staffers’ persistent requests to install one.

“We want to help the public who may not have access to a cellphone,” said Christine Mlinarchik, a facility operations manager for the county. “It was a no-brainer for us.”

Three pay phones in the buildings were removed during remodeling two years ago. Since then, staffers have routinely received inquiries about the pay phones.

Joan Turpin, who has worked at the government center’s central information desk for a decade, said people often ask about a pay phone because they need to call for a ride.

The county paid less than $100 for the installation and will pay $40 a month for service. The pay phone accepts credit cards and charges 50 cents for local calls. It can also place collect calls.

More than 95 percent of Americans owned a cellphone by 2011, according to the Pew Research Center.