Oktibbeha County Road Manager Victor Collins can’t keep up.
Over the past month, Collins and his road crew have replaced 36 traffic or street signs that have been torn down, vandalized or stolen.
Collins told the Board of Supervisors on Monday that many of the signs, including those on Blackjack Road, Outlaw Road and Chapel Hill Road have been torn down in the past.
“At Blackjack and Hickory Grove, we put it up the first of last week and it was down by Friday,” Collins said. “The sign at Outlaw and Chapel Hill, we put it up three times last month. In the last six months, it seems like it’s taken off.”
Collins suggested the board help curtail the problem by actively pursuing those who vandalize or steal the signs. He said placing cameras near the site would be effective.
“You can buy a good deer camera for $100,” said Carl Clardy, District 2 supervisor.
Oktibbeha County Chief Deputy George Carrithers said they’ve dealt with the problem before by placing GPS-enabled chips on the signs.
Carrithers said it’s common for college students to steal the signs and hang them in their apartments or dorm rooms. Carrithers added that if one person is suspected of taking a sign, the person usually has others.
The board advised Collins to research costs for camera equipment and report back to the board in two weeks.
Collins said materials are usually $60 per sign but greater losses are incurred in employee hours used to install them.
Anyone caught with a street sign could be charged with possession of stolen property of Oktibbeha County, a misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to six months in county jail.
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