Drove up to the bank the other day and the thing that grabbed my attention was a new spiffy, solar-powered stop sign. Really? At the only 4-way stop intersection, in Whitehouse, Ohio?
So I go into the bank and make a comment to the teller about the new, spiffy stop signs. She proceeds to tell me they were installed for ‘safety reasons.’ Really? “Have we been ‘scarping them’ up off the highway here of late? In downtown Whitehouse, Ohio?” I inquired.
“Well, we have seen an increase in traffic,” she responded.
This conversation wasn’t going to go anywhere, so I gave it up… but not before wondering “How did I survive to 66 without spiffy, solar-powered stop signs in downtown Whitehouse, Ohio?” out loud, of course…
The population of Whitehouse was reported as 2733 in the 2000 US census. Current estimates range up to 4339. And some of those I suppose, don’t drive…
I don’t know how much these damn things cost in Whitehouse, Ohio, but in Branson, MO they just installed them at $4,000 a pop! YGBSM! This is to replace a sign – one that has worked for me for 48 years – that costs $125 each. But, the new signs are sure ‘spiffy!’ And I am sure the fine folks in the village administration are proud as punch of them!
And we wonder why our government – whether it be federal, state or local – is broke?
Grrrr……