Residents ask Chilton County Commission to install horse-and-buggy signage; vote set for next meeting

Gideon Gingrich asked the Chilton County Commission to install horse-and-buggy and slow-moving-vehicle signage on county roads to improve safety for slower vehicles used by a newly arrived community. "We was looking about having signs out on the road about horse and buggy so people pay attention for more safety," Gingrich said during public comment.

Commissioners and staff discussed where signs would be most useful, naming higher-speed or high-traffic county roads as priorities and suggesting a limited set of posting locations near town entrances and county thoroughfares. Heath, identified in the meeting as the county engineer, noted the county could use an established buggy symbol and said staff would pursue procurement through the normal process. Chairman Kenneth asked Lakisha to place the item on the Thursday meeting agenda for a formal vote.

Speakers noted short-term measures to increase visibility, including reflective tape and lanterns on buggies and temporarily placing a stationary buggy to draw driver attention where travel begins. Commissioners emphasized county jurisdiction applies to county roads but said signage inside city limits would require discussion with the city council and mayor.

The commission did not take a final action during the work session; staff said the sign procurement and designation of suggested routes (several county roads were named during the discussion) will be presented for a vote at the next regular meeting.