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ELKINS -- The Randolph County Commission received an update concerning the county's current 911 sign installation this week.
Randolph County Office of Emergency Management Mapping Coordinator Sandy Bibey gave an informational presentation to Commissioners David Kesling, Chris See and Cris Siler during the meeting.
"The reason I'm here is to talk about the current project where we are putting up emergency responder signs around the county," Bibey said to the commission. "The project was started last year and it's being done by fire company territories. The purpose of the signs is to help all emergency responders, fire, law enforcement and EMS find residents more efficiently,"
Bibey told the commission that signs have already been installed in Coalton, Huttonsville, Harman, Whitmer and Leading Creek, and that signs are currently being put up in the Elkins territory.
"As the Elkins territory signs are completed, the contractor will pick up the next batch of signs and continue working southwards," said Bibey. "With the weather now upon us, the assigned contractor will be working toward the completion of the project as weather permits."
The signs being installed are blue in color and have a reflective coating. They were made at the Mount Olive Correctional facility and can only be put up in certain areas, according to Bibey.
"Emergency responder signage can only be installed off state right of ways. We cannot install on private property, city property, municipalities, or in the National Forest on federal land," she said. "We've had reports of signs and posts being removed and tossed to the side, and in some cases taken all together.
"Overall, the public response to the signs has been good. People are happy to see the signs going up in their areas. We've had a lot of compliments on the signage and the coloring especially, which was done so that they would stick out, especially at night time."
Bibey said even though a majority of residents are happy to see the signs going up, there are a few who have had negative responses, whether it be over a sign's location, the name on the sign, or other issues.
"We've had some people calling into the office," said Bibey. "We have a few instances where people have had a problem with the people installing the signs and I urge the public not to approach the sign contractor workers… If you have a problem, don't remove the signs posted, please contact my office and I will work with you to resolve the problem."
Bibey said the materials to make each sign cost between $125 and $130, and noted it is a federal offense to destroy or steal the signs.
"These signs aren't free and people can't be destroying them because they don't like where they are at, or don't like what's on them," Kesling said. "If you have a problem with the signs, don't tear them down, contact Sandy (Bibey) at 911 and she can work through the problem."
Kesling said ever since the project moved to the Elkins area, it has been getting much more attention.
"A lot of people have seen the signs going up in the Elkins District and that has brought a lot of attention to it," he said. "We have gotten calls from people in Glenmore Acres and other areas like Pineview and Teaberry Hills. Can you explain why signs aren't going up in areas like that?"
Bibey responded, "Anytime there is private property or you're in a homeowners association, we can't post signs there. We can only post a sign off of a state right of way. So the homeowners associations, like the Glenmore Acres subdivision, Woodridge and Pineview, have posted their own signs."
Bibey added the signs were important to the safety of all residents in Randolph County, and to destroy one of the signs could cost someone their life.
"The signs are a great thing because they are helping the emergency responders get to emergencies a lot faster," she said. "To destroy those signs takes away from the minutes and the time that a responder will be able to find someone more efficiently."