Orange Twp. approves new trail signage

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After much debate between Orange Township officials in recent months, trustees voted Monday to move forward with the approval of a new trail signage policy.

The debate was initiated by Trustee Lisa Knapp several months ago when she said complaints were registered about traffic stop signs and pedestrian signs on Owenfield Drive that were confusing to motorists. She said the signs weren’t clear about whether traffic was to stop or not.

“I would like to remove the pedestrian crossing signs that face Owenfield and the yield signs that have been placed in some location and not others,” said Park Director Beth Hugh. “Consistency is still the key and it’s not very consistent right now.”

The new signs for all Orange Township trails will consist of a smaller than normal stop sign with a large pedestrian sign underneath indicating the alert is for pedestrians. The new stop sign will be large enough for motorists to see.

Hugh discussed the problem with the county prosecutor’s office and the county engineer’s office, seeking advice regarding how to proceed. The common thread in the answers she received was “consistency” in whatever was decided by the township.

Hugh only had a draft policy to present to trustees for approval. Trustees Robert Quigley and Debbie Taranto asked Michael McCarthy, the board’s attorney, and Hugh to write the resolution so they could approve it on the spot.

In other township business trustees:

• Approved change order number one for the Alum Creek Pedestrian Bridge Project for $6,164 to George J. Igel and Company Inc. and approved a Then and Now Purchase Order for the same. Hugh said the work was to stabilize an area where a waterline had been installed.

• Authorized payment to George J. Igel and Company Inc. for $31,850 for the Alum Creek Bridge Project.

• Authorized a pay application for the North Road Park Phase One project to Trucco Construction Company Inc. for $18,550.

• Approved a purchase order for Korda/Nemeth Engineering Inc. for phase two of the North Orange Road Park Phase Two for $115,500.

According to Hugh, the project is coming along on the 22-acre North Road Park. She said sanitary is to be finished the end of the week and digging will start next week for the basin. “In about two weeks they will start digging the drainage for the fields and put in the irrigation and draining the fields,” she said.

The park will have several soccer fields, concessions, parking for up to 300 vehicles, a pond with running water and a one mile trail around its perimeter.

• Approved the purchase of two Fire King vertical file cabinets for the fiscal office totaling $4,700.

• Declared obsolete items unfit for the use by the fire department and approved of them being donated for a dollar to Belmont College in Clairsville, Ohio to be used as training aids.

By D. Anthony Botkin

[email protected]

D. Anthony Botkin may be reached at 740-413-0902 or on Twitter @dabotkin.

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