By Bob Burns
Mail

The Fountain Hills Town Council approved by unanimous vote a cooperative purchase agreement for traffic signs in the community.

Street signs are used by the town to communicate rules, warnings, guidance and other highway information that motorists need to navigate safely, according to Public Works Director Justin Weldy.

“The town is responsible for over 5,000 signs,” Weldy said. “The sign management system includes inventory, inspection, preventive maintenance, repair and replacement and recordkeeping as part of the maintenance program.”

The program replaces and repairs signs such as stop and yield, speed limit, warning, parking regulatory and street name signs. Essential signs are handled as emergencies and are usually replaced within four hours of notification, according to Weldy. This includes stop, yield, do no enter, one way, detour and school crossings.

As a matter of course the Street Department staff removes damaged old and faded traffic signs and takes them to the sign shop. Outdated and damaged signs are sent to an aluminum recycling vendor for which the town is paid a market rate for recycling.

“This routine maintenance and proactive approach ensures compliance with state and federal guidelines,” Weldy said. “This contract … is budgeted in the Streets Fund and will allow staff to perform standard maintenance as well as restock the inventory and prepare for numerous signs that are nearing the end of their reflectivity life.”

The agreement is with Interwest Safety Supply and includes the signs and sign hardware. The contract was recently put to bid by the City of Peoria and was awarded to Interwest. The Town of Fountain Hills was able to receive the same pricing as the Peoria contract.