Thieves steal five new speed limit signs

The signs were stolen the day they were installed.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The sheriff's department is investigating the theft of speed limit signs that were removed hours after the township installed them, officials said.
Township Road Supervisor Gary Cook said 11 signs were installed March 31, a Friday, and by 11 that night, five had been stolen.
On the next Monday, April 3, the township had replaced the signs, he said, and coated them with grease to make them harder to pull out.
The signs were installed on four streets: Aladdin, Alvacardo, Fox Haven, Clearview and Edenrock.
A resident had complained of speeding on the residential streets, but because there was no posted speed limit, motorists were legally allowed to drive up to 55 mph, township officials said.
Matthew Traywick, who is also a state trooper, told trustees in a letter in February that he has personally clocked drivers at more than 50 mph on the streets.
The township intended to ask him to circulate petitions to install speed limit signs, but no petitions were ever circulated, said fiscal officer Carmen Heasley.
Study conducted
She said that after Traywick's complaint, the township asked the Mahoning County engineer's office for a speed study. If trustees determine there is a safety issue, they can ask for a study without a petition.
The study showed that signs were warranted, and at the trustees' March 28 meeting, they limited speed on those roads to 25 mph.
Heasley said Traywick's complaint was not the first from the neighborhood about speeding.
Cook and Trustee Randy Brashen said there had been some feedback from residents who believe signs are unnecessary. Cook also said that other residents have indicated they appreciate them. He said there are about 45 homes in the area.
Cook said three signs were stolen from Clearview, one from Fox Haven and one from Alvacardo.
Cook said the township searched for the signs and asked neighbors if they saw who took them, but no one had any information.
Heasley said people should know that stealing signs is a safety issue. Street-name signs were stolen off some township roads in recent months, and, she said, that makes it hard for safety forces to find people's homes in emergencies.