By Megan Miller, Editor
ARGO — According to Argo Mayor Betty Bradley, 15-20 street signs have gone missing over the last several weeks in Argo.
Bradley said that emergency services like firefighters, ambulances and police cars finding their way and the cost of replacing the signs are the city’s top concerns at this time, especially since some signs are stolen again right after going up.
“Street signs serve a purpose and are key to citizens, visitors and services finding their way around the city,” Bradley said. “If the sign is missing, and an emergency vehicle can’t find the house, a dangerous situation could worsen.”
Bradley said several signs are on order, but it takes six to eight weeks for signs to come in and be replaced, and many don’t realize replacing the signs comes at a cost to the city.
“As innocuous and prankish as it might seem, the theft of signs costs the city and can cause accidents,” Bradley said. “I would like residents to be as proactive as possible about reporting suspicious behavior in their neighborhoods. It doesn’t serve the public well to have those signs lacking.”
Bradley said anyone caught stealing a street sign will be charged with theft of city property, which comes with possible jail time and/or a fine. All crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
“I would not want it on my conscience that a neighbor was put in danger because I stole a street sign and an ambulance could not find the right address,” Bradley said.