ABOVE: The top is a current street sign in the city of Fairmont and the bottom is an example of a new and retroreflective street sign that will be coming following the city council's approval on Monday. Photo courtesy of Matthew York.

FAIRMONT– The Fairmont City Council approved of getting new street signs at its meeting on Monday.

Fairmont’s Public Works Director, Matthew York said, “In 2023 I noticed that our street name signs were not all in compliance with the MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) to require that street name signs and all signage throughout town before retroreflective.”

He brought some examples of current signs, which he said would be hard to see driving at night since they’re not retroreflective.

In addition to that requirement, York said the signs also need to be replaced every 10 to 12 years.

An example of a retroreflective sign was shown to the council and York asked the council to make a decision to move forward with new signs. He provided options of blue with white letters, green with white letters and white with black letters.

“We could also do ones with logos on them,” York said.

In addition, he said if while the signs were being replaced, whether the council wanted to put up new poles for them, too.

“The poles are not budgeted. We could budget them for 2027 and then move forward immediately at the beginning of 2027 and do the completion of the entire project all at once,” York said.

Council Member Wayne Hasek asked whether all of the colors options were the same price and York said they were.

Council Member Britney Kawecki said, “well, the city of Fairmont color is blue, so I would go with blue.”

Council Member Jay Maynard agreed with blue and said he would like to see the logo added, too.

York said he did not know how much more it would cost to add a logo but said it would be about $32,000 for all of the signs to be replaced.

“I wouldn’t say it would be much more. The cost really comes in the sheeting,” he said.

Kawecki said even if it was $5,000 or $6,000, she didn’t think logos were needed and that money could be spent on something else.

She also asked York why the city hasn’t been penalized for not meeting these sign requirements, and he said he did not know.

“When you don’t follow the federal requirements and someone has an accident or something, that could make us liable,” York said.

“But now we’re going to wait until 2027?” Kawecki asked.

York said he did not ask to wait until 2027 but wanted guidance from the council on the pole replacement, too.

Maynard said while he agreed the signs needed to be replaced to meet requirements, he did think they could hold off and wait until there are new poles to put them on.

“I don’t think we need to be doing things twice,” he said. “There’s costs there that would just be plain dumb to incur.”

Council Member James Kotewa asked whether there was any money that could be pulled from reserves to use to pay for the poles.

York said his preliminary estimate was $65,000. Finance Director Paul Hoye said that there is $121,000 assigned in the general fund balance for street equipment at the end of 2025.

Kawecki said, “I drove around and looked at the poles. I don’t understand why we need new poles. It’s a $65,000 cost.”

York pointed out there are poles around town that are rusting out in locations and Kawecki suggested just those ones get replaced.

“It just seems like it’s expense after expense after expense,” she said.

Kawecki said that she thought the new street signs should be ordered and that staff should install them at their own pace, rather than hire a contractor.

York said he was just providing the council with options by bringing up the poles. He reiterated that just the signs need to be replaced at this time.

Kawecki made a motion to approve blue signs with white letters and no logo, with no pole replacement and the project done in-house. Council Member Wayne Hasek seconded the motion.

Maynard asked to amend the motion to have the sunset and bird logo for the city of Fairmont added. His amendment received no second and failed.

Kawecki’s earlier motion passed unanimously.

In other business, the council:

— Approved to continue the Lake Avenue assessment objection for 1300 Lake Avenue. The hearing first opened on March 23 and continued onto April 13 for six objections and the 1300 Lake Avenue objection continued on April 27 as well. An appraisal of the property is scheduled for June 17 so the council approved continuing the hearing until July 13 to continue conversations with the property owners.

— Held a property tax abatement for Cress Brothers LLC (Cress Refrigeration) and no one spoke during the public hearing. In a roll cal vote, the tax abatement request passed unanimously by city council. Next the request will go to the county and school district.

— Approved an amendment to a commercial billboard lease agreement with Robert J. Siems Investments, LLP for the City of Fairmont sign on highway 15 on the north entrance into town. The billboard lease agreement expired in 2024 and was not renewed at the time as it was expected that the county would buy the land for the new justice center. Rent was paid for 2025 but council approved entering into a new five year lease for $700 a year.

— Approved in a 4-1 vote a contract with Short, Elliot, Hendricksen Inc. (SEH) for the downtown infrastructure improvement project.