Commissioners discuss recurring theft of road signs at dangerous curve, ask staff to research prevention options

Commissioners told the board they are seeing recurring theft of county road signs, including at a location described as a 90‑degree curve on a secondary road (described in the meeting as State Pond Road). Commissioners said missing signs create a safety hazard at locations where unfamiliar drivers can approach a sharp turn.

Board members asked the highway department and relevant staff to investigate why signs disappear, whether the material could be changed to deter theft (for example, nonmetal alternatives), and whether local scrap‑metal purchasers are accepting signs without verification. Highway staff said they would check into available sign materials and follow up; they noted some past incidents in surrounding counties had resulted in arrests for stolen signs.

No formal motion was made at the meeting; commissioners requested staff follow up and report back with options and costs for longer‑term prevention measures.