New guidelines prompt replacement of county signs

Bourbon County Public Works Director Marty Pearson told county commissioners on Friday that all but about 75 to 100 stop signs in the county have been replaced with new, more reflective ones as mandated by the federal government.

After attending informational meetings in October about the new federally mandated signage, Pearson said local governments must replace all damaged signage with the new, more reflective type. In late October, Pearson estimated that there were probably about 2,500 stop signs in the county and it will cost approximately $50 per stop sign to replace them. He added that there are also many other signs, in addition to stop signs, that would need to be replaced to adhere to the new guidelines.

Pearson said Friday that the original federal deadline for replacement of the signs was this year, but because of the expense to local governments, the date has been extended to 2015.

Meanwhile, any replacement signs have to be the new, more reflective type. He added that the posts for new signs are 4 inches by 6 inches and have holes drilled near the base, so they snap more easily on impact. The breakaway posts are another federally mandate in a book of guidelines that Pearson said is about 900 pages long.

Pearson said the older signs might reflect some light out to the sides of the signage, but the new ones are much brighter, with the light reflecting directly forward.

"They will blind you at night," Pearson said.

Pearson also was instructed to install curve signs at 190th and Jayhawk, north of the airport.

"You can see the tracks where cars have gone off that," Commission Chairman Allen Warren said. "It really needs them."

Pearson and commissioner Barbara Albright spent time on Wednesday surveying the sign situation in the county.

Pearson also reported that the county's new website link to report road problems is working well, although there have been instances of email being misdirected.

County department heads also met with commissioners on Friday for information on navigating the new website.

Warren suggested keeping a log on action taken for reports of road problems on the website.

"I think it gives a sense of accomplishment to be able to look back and see what has been done," Warren said.

Commissioners also discussed letting bids for about two to three acres of land at the edge of the county landfill. The land, which juts out in the shape of a triangle, is of little use to the landfill.

Warren also said he wants to work on updating job descriptions for county employees, specifically the assistant supervisor position that is open at the quarry.

Commissioners met for 20 minutes in executive session with Pearson, county attorney Terri Johnson and county clerk Kendell Mason regarding non-elected personnel. No action was taken.

After the session, Johnson thanked Pearson for his help in an ongoing investigation, but could not reveal the nature of the probe.