Sweetwater authorizes retroactive purchase of street signs, directs mayor to use CITT funds

The City Commission of the City of Sweetwater on Monday approved a resolution retroactively authorizing the purchase and installation of street signs across the city and gave the mayor authority to complete orders to finish the program using carryover CITT funds.

City officials said an initial count of ordered signs was incomplete and some signs — including street-name panels, yield signs and others — must be reordered to replace items missing information. The mayor told the commission the city is working from CITT carryover funds and "this is not coming out of our city coffers. These are CITT monies," and that the city must spend the allocation before it expires.

The city attorney proposed adding language authorizing the mayor to expend whatever funds are necessary to complete the work and to seek retroactive approval within a limited period; commissioners discussed 60, 90 and 100 days and moved forward agreeing on a 90-day retroactive-approval window. Commissioners moved and seconded the amendment and then voted to pass the amended resolution.

Commissioners said the vendor previously awarded the contract was selected on price and was moving quickly but additional orders were required because of errors in the initial count and differences between sign types. Staff will report back to the commission with a final accounting of the total number and cost of signs ordered and installed.

The resolution authorizes the mayor to complete outstanding purchases and installation and to seek the commission's retroactive approval within the agreed-upon timeframe. The commission approved the amended item by voice vote.