Road sign vandalism — including bullet holes — costs taxpayers thousands of dollars

PORT ANGELES — Clallam County taxpayers shelled out $42,872 last year to replace stolen or vandalized road signs, including those used for target practice, county road officials say.

County Engineer Ross Tyler, who is tracking the costs, briefed two of the three county commissioners in a work session Monday.

Commissioner Steve Tharinger was absent from the county courthouse meeting Monday, instead being sworn in as a 24th District state representative in Olympia.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

County Administrator Jim Jones said the cost of replacing the signs is “just an unacceptable amount of money,” especially in times of tight budgets.

“Collectively, if people realized that this is costing the taxpayers this kind of money for this seemingly thoughtless act, perhaps it would become something not so much to be proud of and be bragging about,” Jones said.

“But it would become something that would be looked down upon.”

County officials said road signs are being used for gun and rifle target practice and as decorations in homes.

Commissioner Mike Doherty said the cost is “probably the equivalent of more than a couple jobs” because of the materials and staff time.

Tyler said the road department will work with Code Compliance Officer Rich Sill and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office to combat the issue.

“This is just the road department cost. I have not captured what it costs the sheriff’s department to respond to this,” Tyler said.

Since 2002, the road department has spent close to $400,000 to replace stolen or vandalized signs, Tyler said.

That’s an average of nearly $50,000 per year.

“It’s fairly significant,” Tyler said.

Much of the vandalism comes in the form of bullet holes.

“Some of the shooting stuff is more on the West End, off in some of the less used roads,” Tyler said after the work session.

“As you get farther to the east, unless you go up some of the mountain roads, it’s more theft.”

Tyler said the road signs along Mary Clark Road in Beaver are particularly susceptible to vandalism.

Street signs for Kitchen-Dick and Hooker roads in the Carlsborg area are popular with thieves, he added.

“If it was $4,000 [per year], nobody would pay any mind to it,” Tyler said.

“But $43,000? That’s a project. That’s enough money to do something useful.”

Tyler said the county could sand “quite a few miles” of icy roads, for example, with the $43,000.

The cost included $17,484 for 881 hours of regular labor and two hours of overtime.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Stew Cockburn stands in the spring annual section prior to it being for early spring gardeners.
New Dungeness Nursery planted in landscaping industry

Family and their employees work 2-acre location in Sequim

Partnership discussion may violate state law

OMC in Phase 2 of exploratory process

Members of the public take a guided tour at Port Townsend High School on Wednesday. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Townsend school district may seek $90M bond

Tour highlights high school’s infrastructure needs

A pair of wind surfers take off from the breakwater at Port Townsend Marina in an apparent race across the bay on Tuesday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Catching the wind

A pair of wind surfers take off from the breakwater at Port… Continue reading

Clallam County Economic Development Council Director of Operations Lorie Fazio, left, and Executive Director Colleen McAleer stand with Michael Cade, executive director of Thurston EDC who presented the WEDA’s 2025 Innovation in Economic Development award. The EDC received the award last month in recognition of its Clallam Forest Product Innovation Program.
Clallam EDC wins state innovation award

Forest innovation program intended to revitalize industry

Port Townsend library to show Willa Cather documentary

Free novels, dramatic reading Thursday at 5:30

Jefferson sets short-term rental rules

County establishes 4 percent cap, one rental per operator

When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)
When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)
Former deputy’s ashes to be sent into space

Widow of John Strachan to fulfill his dream

Port OKs Citizen Air lease

Company purchasing Rite Bros. Aviation

Rebates offered for e-bikes through April 23

The state Department of Transportation will accept applications for e-bike… Continue reading

Jefferson County Public Health names heroes

Jefferson County Public Health has announced its 2025 Public… Continue reading

Man transported to hospital after log truck goes into ditch

A log truck driver was transported to Forks Community Hospital… Continue reading