Road signs southwest of Oran vandalized

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County experienced "a bad weekend" when it came to sign vandalism.

"We had 15 to 20 signs vandalized or torn down, just southwest of Oran," said Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger during Thursday's meeting of the Scott County Commission. Stop signs, road markers, railroad crossing and directional signs were damaged.

"Not only is this a cost to the county and us as taxpayers, it puts people's lives in jeopardy," Burger said. "It is not a joke for these signs to be in the ditch."

An accident could occur due to the signs not being up, and emergency responders could be slowed if they were unable to find the correct road.

Workers in the highway department build the new signs, "but that just takes away from what we need to be doing," Burger said.

In 2008, $3,350 was spent on the materials, while about $5,000 was spent in 2007, he said.

"It should be much lower than that -- only about $500 or so for damage because of accidents."

Commissioners said they have alerted law enforcement to the issue and asked them to be on the lookout for sign vandalism.

In other business Thursday, Burger said the Missouri Department of Transportation wrapped up its bridge inspection, which takes place every two years.

Bridge inspector Don Riley found that "our bridges were in excellent shape," Burger said.