Prattville Residents Concerned With Vandalized Signs
The work of vandals is raising concerns for people in Prattville. City leaders say what’s happening not only affects what you see driving in and out of town, but it’s also becoming a safety concern.
People who live around the Prattville High School area say they’re tired of seeing signs like this one being vandalized in their neighborhood.
Someone is going around the area tagging the markers with graffiti. Many of them can be seen as you’re driving on Upper Kingston Road.
“It looks trashy. I mean, it doesn’t look good and it makes the neighborhoods look not so good,” Said Prattville resident, Kathy Harvey.
But it’s not all about the way things look — the cost to replace the signs is also problem.
“In reality, these signs are approximately $50 to $75 a piece and you know if it starts affecting the signs in the way it starts affecting public safety, then that’s when the signs need to be replaced,” Said Prattville Mayor, Bill Gillespie.
Gillespie says replacing the signs will come from tax-payer money.
“You’re trying to stretch them as best as you can and when somebody comes out here and does something like this, you get a little bit frustrated there because on a tight budget, those dollars are pretty much not spent to their fullest,” Said Gillespie.
Another concern — graffiti makes road signs difficult to read. Especially at night. Some people who live in the area say the vandals’ handiwork is putting drivers at risk.
“I know the speed limits but you know if you’re a stranger here it would be because sometimes they alter the speed limit here with their little black paint, you know?” Said another Prattville resident, Hugh Davis.
That’s why city leaders and police want the people tagging signs to stop tagging; stop wasting taxpayer dollars — or else, they could end up in jail.
