No…She Doesn’t “Got Milk”

If you’ve ever noticed the beautiful flowers on the street corners in downtown Sanford, you may have noticed the milk jug lady.  This is of course our own Helen Hnks.

Helen has been a devoted member of Downtown Sanford Incorporated (DSI) since the mid 1990′s.  Although she does not own property or a business in downtown, she still feels that being a part of DSI and helping our downtown grow is very important.  When ever there’s a project that needs volunteers….. you’ll find Helen.

The flowers on the corners downtown have always been a challenge for DSI to maintain.  Working on a limited budget DSI needed volunteers to help with this project. The job of “flower keeper” in downtown was filled by none other than guess who……….that’s right, Helen Hinks.

If you happen to see Helen carrying her milk jugs filled with water on the streets downtown, please thank her for ALL she does for our city.  I for one can’t think of anyone that helps out more and is always there.

Thank you Helen….very much!

If you would like to volunteer to help with any project in downtown Sanford please call DSI Director David Montgomery at 919-775-8332.

DOT Sign Crews….. Reaction Time Slow In Sanford

Street signs in our city need some attention.  There are leaning signs, faded signs, over grown signs, and worse of all damaged signs. 

The City of Sanford street crew replaces and maintains any sign located on a city maintained street.  This includes speed limit signs, stop signs, and street markers.  The city crews have done a good job maintaining the signage on city streets.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the state DOT sign crew.  Signs on state maintained roads and leaning, twisted, faded, over grown and damaged.  Many request have been turned into the state for sign maintenance and repair.  Although some request are honored……many go for a great deal of time before action is taken, if at all.

In the first picture above a highway information sign was damaged during an accident on Carthage Street.  Although this has been reported to DOT several times, the sign is still on the side of the road almost a year later.

The second picture shows a damaged speed limit sign located on Carbonton Road.  When reported to DOT the sign was simply removed, not replaced. 

The third sign is an adopt a highway sign and was damaged last week on Wilkins Drive.  This sign has been reported and awaiting action. 

It makes a person wonder why these signs were there at all if it’s not worth replacing. It also gives the appearance that the city does a poor job of maintaining their signage.  This is simply not the case.  It is truly the states responsibility. 

If you have any sign issue in your neighborhood or onany street located inside the city limits, please call -Street Superintendant Magna Holloway at 919-775-8326 or Steve Brewer at 919-770-9587.  State sign of city sign, we’ll be glad contact the proper department for you.

Sign…Sign…Everywhere a Sign

 

Politics sometimes gets a little messy.  This year seems a little messier than others. I’m not referring to the differences between the candidates, or their passion for what they believe is right for our community, state, or nation.  I’m referring to the quantity of political signage this year…..the signage that has become litter….and the way campaign signs make our landscape look this time of year.  

This is in no way a “rock” thrown at any candidate or any party.  To have supporters that will put your sign in their yard, or supporters to put signs along roadways (where permitted), is an important part of campaigning. I  put up several hundred yard and street signs myself during my campaign, and will probably be putting them up again in 2009.

If you are going to put up a political sign, please do not put them in the right-of-way.  If you do, city crews may remove the sign for being out of code.  Place your sign behind the street light poles or behind the water meter tap.  Both of these areas are out of the street right-of-way and your sign should not be bothered.  If you do have a sign picked up for some reason, it can usually be found leaning against the back wall of the Federal Building on Carthage Street.  

Four more weeks of campaigning.  I wish every candidate good luck and thanks for trying to make a difference……win or loose. I for one was glad to see election day in 2005, regardless of the outcome. I  hope everyone involved with installing signs will help remove them quickly after the election. 

For more information on street right-of-ways and signage, please call Street Superintendent Magna Halloway at919-775-8326 or Steve Brewer at 919-770-9587.

Roadside Litter……Who’s Picking It Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One goal of the city council this year was to improve the appearance of Sanford.  A piece of that puzzle was to focus on the litter problem along city roadways and find a permanent solution.   The city has tried many different approaches in efforts to control roadside litter.  Unfortunately, these ideas have prove to be unsuccessful.

The city has contracted state inmate labor to remove litter from our roadways.  These crews must be transported and supervised by city staff.  Combined with the Adopt-A-Highway program, this plan seems to be working much better than previous efforts.   https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/AAH/CountyList.aspx

The Adopt-A-Highway program consist of businesses or civic groups cleaning up certain sections of state roadways.  The state erects a sign on that section of road listing the company, or organization that is helping with the clean up. 

Each sponsor is required to remove the litter from both sides of the roadway four times a year.  In some cases there may be requirements for extra clean up, depending on the area.  Some companies use employees to preform the clean up.  Private contractors are also used by some companies.  Either way, the trash is put into orange plastic bags, put into a pile, and picked up later by state DOT crews. 

Litter is a problem in our city.  There are many people working to solve this problem.  Public Works, law enforcement, and many civic organizations just to name a few.  To be successful it will take an effort from us all. 

If you have any suggestions, questions or comments on how we can improve in litter removal, please call City Manager Hal Hegwer at 919-775-8201, or Steve Brewer at 919-770-9587.

Street Light Enhancements Are On The Way For Many Neighborhoods in Sanford

 In the weeks ahead, Progress Energy will begin work on the first phase of the new city street lighting enhancement program.  Sanford is one of the first cities in our state committed to making lighting improvements of this type and on this scale. The goal is to raise street lighting levels throughout the city, and comply with the ASHTO (American Association of State Highway Transportation) lighting standards. This should almost double the amount of existing street lighting in our city.

There will be improvements in each Ward in Sanford.  East Sanford, Forrest Hills, Currie Drive and Martin Street are areas slated for improvements.  Areas were chosen by city staff on a worse case basis. 

The lighting will be a three part process:

• Areas marked Red (1) represents the first areas to be enhanced   
• Areas marked Green (2) represent areas pending fund availability and would be second.
• Areas marked Blue (3) represent areas pending fund availability after the second.
• State roads are in PURPLE. Request for enhancements on state roads have been submitted, however take 6 to 9 months for approval.

All areas are throughout the city are unique and will require different levels of funding depending on existing poles, etc.  It is believed that each Ward could receive approximately 90 lights if all goes well. 

This is the first year of many that will focus on street light enhancement.  Be patient, the plan is not to stop until every neighborhood is complete.  This project will take time.  

Improved street lighting is just one pieces of the puzzle that will help make our city a safer place to live.  If you have any questions on this issue please call City Manager Hal Hegwer at 919-775-8201 or Steve Brewer at 919-770-9587.

 

Tall Grass Along The Road Ways………Who Cuts What ……and When?

 

Have you ever driven past an area of our city and wondered why the grass was so tall, or why the city hasn’t mowed it?  If so, then you’re not alone. 

The city is responsible for all mowing along city streets and right of ways.  City crews have worked hard to mow on a more frequent basis. Compared to years past, I’d would have to say that the crews have done a pretty good job.  How much rain we receive is also a determining factor.  City buildings, Depot Park, sewer easements, green space owned by the city, flower beds, etc.  are all maintained by the city crews.  This also includes many of the flower beds along the highway bridges and underpasses of US Hwy 1 and Hwy 421.

The State Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for mowing state roads and highways.  DOT contracts this service out each year. The contractor mows road sides five times a year. This mowing begins in the spring and every 4 to 6 weeks the contractor is suppose to mow the required areas.  The first, third, and fourth mowing each year consist of just the road side areas.  The second and third mowing consist of the entire right of way owned by the state.  This means everything on both sides of the road, medians, etc.

In some areas the DOT scheduled mowing just does not seem to be frequent enough to keep our city looking as it should.  The city crews weed-eat around signs and flower beds. (the state does not weed-eat) Unfortunately, these flower beds and signs are usually surrounded by very tall grass.  This is not how the system is suppose to work.   I believe this schedule is proving itself to be an unacceptable answer to our mowing needs in certain areas inside the city limits.  

City staff is very aware of this problem. They are currently meeting with the state discusing how scheduling may be improved in these areas so they are cut more frequently. Several options are on the table. This problem should be solved before next years mowing season begins. 

How our city looks and is maintained is very important.  If there are areas that you believe need improvement in Sanford please call City Manager Hal Hegwer at 919-775-8201, Councilman Steve Brewer at 919-770-9587 or any council member.

Slowing Neighborhood Traffic

One of the many questions asked on National Night Out was how to slow down traffic in the neighborhood.  Depending on what type street you live on will depend on the method of speed control that may help.  This is an on going concern. The city has had some success in areas and is working in several others areas where citizens have reported excessive speeds.

One of the first steps is to conduct a traffic study of the area in question.  The city has a small device that is temporarily installed on the road itself.  This device counts the number vehicles coming and going each day, and the speed of those vehicles.  After reviewing the information from the traffic study, a plan for that particular street or area is developed. 

There are several different ways that you can attempt to slow traffic. Different situations dictate the success or failure in each case.  Some solutions are:

• Reduce the speed limit to a lower speed
• Post more signage and possibly highlight as a reminder
• Temporary signage to bring new awareness to the problem
• Speed humps or bumps (The city has considered but has not tried this.)
• Stop signs, to break up traffic flow
• Speed indicators are temporary devices that make you aware how fast you are going
• Police car decoy
• Police using radar

A neighborhood that has a great deal of thru traffic is the most challenging.  Winterlocken, located in the Long View Acres and West Landing subdivisions, and Gulf Street in the Rosemont McIver Park Historic District, are good examples.  These neighborhoods had an average vehicle speed of 5 to 10 miles per hour (mph) faster than the posted speed limit.  Unfortunately, at times there were a few vehicles traveling on in excess of 50 mph.  A speed indicator and a four way stop were chosen to help slow traffic on these streets.  Combined with police patrols, this seems to be slowing the traffic in these areas.

Carbonton Road, in the Kiwanis Park area, presented a different challenge.  This area has a speed limit change from 45 mph to 35 mph located on an incline.  Posting more signage, speed indicators and police using radar seem to be a winning combination that is slowing traffic on this stretch of road.   There are still some that choose to speed, but the majority of drivers are slowing down.

Neighborhoods such as Brentwood, Carbonton Heights, Westcroft, Bellaire, Planters Ridge, Muirfield, Westlake Downs, etc., have no main thoroughfare leading to other areas of the city. There is a limited amount of traffic in these type neighborhoods and most of the people driving too fast are the neighbors. Temporary signs and police patrol will help in these areas; however the neighbors may be the key.

It is impossible to have a police patrol in your area all the time.  Getting involved and discussing problem speeders with your neighbors may help solve some problems.  Community Watches can help with this problem too.  Many times in these areas it is a young neighborhood driver who is traveling too fast.  They either live close by or are visiting a friend.  Either way, someone in the neighborhood, usually knows who these individuals are and where they live or visit. You may need his or her parents contacted to help with the problem.  Children tend to play more in the streets in these areas and no one ever wants to see anyone get hurt. 

Our traffic flow is always changing. New streets and neighborhoods are increasing traffic volume.  As our city grows, so will traffic concerns.  The City Council and Police Department are continually working on different plans for problem areas.  If you have a concerns about an area please call Major Gray with the Sanford Police Department at 919-775-8346, or Steve Brewer at 919-770-9587.

Street Repair

There’s always a few bumps in the road here and there, but just who is responsible for smoothing them out?

The city is responsible for the majority of neighborhood streets in Sanford.  Approximately every three years, the city conducts a street study. This includes information on the volume of traffic and specific needs, etc. for each city maintained street located in Sanford. Engineering uses this information and selects streets for repair or resurfacing. Bids are then taken for the proposed resurfacing or patching for the selected streets.  The number of streets that will receive attention depends upon the budgeted money for the year and the cost of materials, etc.  Remember, asphalt is a by-product of petroleum. Higher fuel prices mean less paving per budgeted dollar.  A large portion of the money used to pay for this resurfacing comes from the state. 

The city has a “hot patch” truck that they use for small patching and pot hole repair.  City crews use over 2400 tons of asphalt on average each year.  This is over and above resurfacing projects or work done by subcontractors.

Many state streets can be identified by center lines.  Except for the obvious streets like Horner Blvd., Wicker St. and Hawkinws Ave., (which needs resurfacing terribly) they also include Cool Springs Rd., Franklin Dr., Dalrymple St., and many others.  Some neighborhoods that were annexed by the city still have state maintained streets.  These streets are not ”up to city standards” and will not become the responsibility of the city until the required maintenance is preformed, the standard raised, and agreed upon by the city and DOT. Stoneybrook Dr. and Foggy Mountain Loop are good examples of these streets. Resurfacing schedules for these streets are done by DOT. (Department of Transportation.)

In any case, you may call the city and report any street in the city limits that needs any type repair.  The city will contact DOT if the street is not maintained by the city. Normally, city crews are quick to correct any pot holes or problems that are reported on city maintained streets. If it is a state maintained street, depending on what state crew is required to make the repairs, it may take weeks, or months.  Especially if the end of the budget year is near and funds are low. Either way…Please report all street issues so repair can be made.

If you have any questions concerning any street issue please call the Street Superintendent, Magna Halloway at 919-775-8326

 

Changing signs…

 

Top picture shows old street marker. Bottom shows nes street marker.

You may have noticed the new street marker signs, located on different street corners, throughout the city.  This is a result of a new process the Street Department is using to produce the signs.  This new process improves the signs visibility, is much more durable, and saves production time and money. 

In the past, street markers were installed on top of the same sign pole as stop signs.  The State Department of Transportation (DOT) no longer allows this practice on State maintained roads and is requiring “stand alone” signs at these locations.  Many of these signs were removed by the DOT and damaged in removal process.  That is where most of the new signs are being installed at this time. 

There is no plan to replace all the signs right away.  The old signs, while not as visible and attractive, are serviceable and do the job.  As signs are damaged or become worn they will be replaced.  Replacements are not limited to corner signs.  Signs that hang across intersections will slowly be changed to the new look.  The city currently replaces this type sign at a rate of 2 or 3 a week. 

If you have any questions concerning these signs or any street issue please call the Street Superintendent, Magna Halloway at 919-775-8326.