Sign vandalism continues in Lyon County with a rash of signs paintballed last week costing the county more than $700.
Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods told Lyon County commissioners this morning during their weekly study session that more than 30 signs were paintballed a week ago in Lyon County. This includes five stop signs; two yield signs; three weight limit signs; one curve sign; 17 OM3 signs; one reverse curve sign; three flood area ahead signs; and one do no pass sign. The estimated cost of replacing the signs and labor is $739.40.
“The estimate was prepared for the Sheriff’s Department and does not include equipment cost,” Woods said in a memo to Lyon County commissioners. “...the labor cost is our best guesstimate as not all the signs have been replaced.”
Woods said once the signs have been paintballed, they have to be stripped of the paint, which causes the sign to lose the reflectivity. The signs then have to be re-faced, which is a labor-intensive process. In last week’s case, the signs had to be replaced and the damaged signs taken to the shop for repair.
In other business:
F Lyon County Under Sheriff Richard Old discussed appropriating $1,150 to pay tuition for two detectives to attend forensic photography workshop in Emporia. The person doing the training is nationally known, Old said.
“I hope to get five to 10 years experience transferred to my guys in a week’s time,” Old said.
Commissioners placed the item on Thursday's consent agenda.
madpoet (anonymous) says...
They strip the paint off the signs??? Paintball paint is watersoluable. I got it off ratty house paint with dishwater and a hose. Surely slick metal signs would be easier to clean. I'm not excusing the punks who shot up the signs but has the county tried to wash the paint off by hand?
I hope they can train the detectives. The better educated/trained our law enforcement is the better they can do their jobs.
April 24, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )