Road sign theft is becoming a costly problem in Grayson County, and it’s the taxpayers who are footing the bill.
Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson said during Thursday’s Grayson County Fiscal Court meeting that the county, over the previous 10 months to a year, has spent between $3,000 and $4,000 per month replacing road signs, as thieves are stealing street signs and traffic-related signs (stop signs, etc) at an alarming rate.
“We’re spending $40,000 to $50,000 per year just to keep road signs up. There are people stealing these signs. They’re taking stop signs down, they’re taking the poles and all … we even put a safety cable on the signs so you can’t just rip them down,” Henderson said.
The judge added he “would definitely prosecute anybody, if you see someone with road signs.”
The signs are engraved so they are able to be identified as property of Grayson County Fiscal Court, Henderson noted.
The judge said that nearly every day there’s an issue with road sign theft, and the cost of replacing the pilfered signs falls squarely on the taxpayer’s pocketbook.
“But it’s ridiculous that we’re having to spend taxpayer money time after time after time because of someone stealing road signs,” a clearly exasperated Henderson stated. “We’re obligated to replace those signs simply because of 911 to get you all (the sheriff’s office) or an ambulance” to a residence quickly.
“We’re spending astronomical amounts of money that we shouldn’t have to be spending because of the theft of these road signs. They’re stealing from the taxpayers,” Henderson reiterated.
Old GC Sheriff’s Office building
Magistrates voted to approve designating the old Grayson County Sheriff’s Office building on the Leitchfield Town Square as surplus property so the building can be placed on the auction block.
Fiscal Court additionally approved using The Logsdon Group to conduct the auction. The auction business will not charge the county for its auction services but will make money from the auction by charging a buyer’s premium.
Henderson said the auction should take place sometime in July, possibly late July.
Grayson County Detention Center grant
Grayson County Jailer Jason Woosley requested magistrates pass a resolution allowing the Grayson County Detention Center to accept a $47,593 grant “for four sets of portable video equipment.”
The equipment will provide “one system for each judge that we can move anywhere in the facility” for communication between judges and inmates, Woosley said.
The resolution, mandated by the passage of legislation by the Kentucky General Assembly, was approved by magistrates.
Executive Session
Magistrates, Henderson, Sheriff Norman Chaffins, and County Attorney Jeremy Logsdon entered an Executive Session to discuss “litigation issues.”
The session, which lasted only seven minutes, resulted in no action being taken, Logsdon said.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
