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The Laurel City Council voted unanimously Monday to delay a decision on whether to change one block of 10th Street into a one-way street after a resident spoke against the move at a council meeting.

Ordinance No. 1653 would change 10th Street between Route 198 eastbound and Montrose Avenue to a one-way southbound roadway.

The proposal was made after residents raised safety concerns about a hill obscuring the view for drivers on 10th Street turning westbound onto Route 198.

Bryon White, city engineer, said a driver was killed in a traffic accident last year after colliding with another vehicle while trying to make the turn.

Jean Wilson, who has lived in the Laurel Hills neighborhood for 40 years, told the council at its Monday meeting that the restriction would eliminate an important access point to Route 198.

"I understand that the left turn from 10th Street onto westbound 198 can be difficult, but the solution should not inconvenience other drivers by taking away an important and safe connection between Laurel Hills, Fairlawn and our city to the east," said Wilson, who suggested officials instead prohibit left turns from 10th Street onto Route 198.

If 10th Street becomes one way, White said traffic studies have indicated 8th and 11th streets would be able to accommodate the additional vehicles entering Route 198 without causing any delay to drivers.

"The time you wait to get an opening is on average the same time you would wait at the light," he said.

The City Council will discuss the proposal further at its work session Wednesday and could vote on the ordinance at its next meeting, set for Nov. 9.

At its Monday meeting, the council also unanimously approved several items related to the Sept. 8 special referendum election, including early voting, a voting-by-ward system, and the extension of the terms of the mayor and council to accommodate changing city elections to the first Tuesday in November in odd-numbered years.