Fairbury, Nebraska-The three-county school district is one step closer to slowing traffic near its school buildings.

The Commissioner of Jefferson County provided support to Superintendent Randy Schlueter at the meeting on Tuesday. The Commissioner of Gage County has pledged to support the school in adopting new safety measures.

Schlueter said the Nebraska Department of Transportation is willing to install a lighting system that will reduce the traffic speed on Highway 103 from 65 to 45 miles per hour within a two-hour window before and after the school begins and ends. New York State said it will pay half of the $60,000 fee, but hopes that the two counties will share the remaining $30,000.

Part of the plan was to deal with an accident that caused two deaths near the school in the summer. The flash would not work at that time, but Schlueter said that a non-injury accident that could have been avoided occurred in the spring.

Schlueter said: "This is a non-injury (accident), no students were involved, but it was still when the lights flickered to slow down. I have a few photos from the building where the car was almost rear-ended by skidding marks in the front."

Commissioners Michael Dux and Mark Schoenrock both said the county would pay its share, but questioned why they would be required to pay for work on state highways.

The committee members also suggested that the road section near the school should always be reduced to 45 miles per hour. Schluter said he thinks the state will oppose the plan.

If the country approves the flash plan, it will be installed in the spring.