New Signs, Stormwater Monday Night in Manchester

The Manchester Board of Aldermen discussed installing new traffic signs, increasing a stormwater project budget and stepping up city code enforcement at Monday night's board of aldermen meeting.

Increasing Stormwater Improvement Project Funding

Alderwoman Marilyn Ottenad asked the board to allocate an additional $9,490 to the engineering firm Cole and Associates Inc. engineering services for a stormwater improvement project. The project is improving sewer and drainage issues in the area of 736 Carman Meadows Drive. The increase in the budget takes the total cost of the city's contract with Cole and Associates Inc. to $35,210.

According to Ottenad, residents in that area are experiencing major flooding and erosion in their backyards. She said the addition of the Boxwood subdivision has increased the flooding problem.

Alderman Michael Clement is working with Ottenad on this project and said residents in the area are losing their backyards. Clement said those residents have also expressed to him that they are committed to the project and will let the work be done in that area around their homes.

Upgrading City Traffic Signs

Director of Public Works Bob Ruck explained to the board the city will need to spend a projected $80,000 over four years to upgrade the city traffic signs. Ruck said all cities, counties and states must upgrade the reflective material on city traffic signs under a mandate from the federal government.

"This is an unfunded mandate. There is no grant money for this," Ruck explained.

Ruck said he expects upgrading all city traffic sings, including stop, yield, warning and speed limit signs, to cost approximately $20,000 per year. He said traffic signs must be upgraded by Jan. 22, 2015 and street signs must be upgraded by January 2018. The traffic signs will be replaced with a high intensity grade reflective material that has a 10-year warranty.

The plan is to do blanket upgrades across the city by dividing it into quarters. Sign replacement will start in the area north of Manchester Road.

"This is a complicated issue, but we have to do this," Ruck explained. "We have to be compliant."

Monday night, the board approved Ruck's request for he first $20,000 for the first year of upgrades in the project. 

Code Enforcement Officer

Board members also discussed the salary for the new Assistant Code Enforcement Officer. Previously, the board discussed the need for an additional person to enforce city code. The board then voted to move forward with hiring for that 20-hour-a-week position. Monday night, members approved creating a category in the city's pay scale for this position that pays between $16.37 and $22.58 per hour. A decision on the hiring should be complete this week.