COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater City Council adopted a new policy Monday night which would allow child specialty warning signs in the city including those for deaf, blind, disabled and autistic children.
It came after numerous audience members spoke in favor of these signs for over a half hour.
Department of Municipal Services Director Bob Granger explained how the new policy would work.
The resolution stated a sign request will only be granted for impaired or disabled children between the ages of two and 19 who are impaired to the extent that they are unable to hear, see or otherwise comprehend oncoming traffic.
The City reserves the right to deny any request found not to meet the policy criteria or with overly burdensome requests.
The Monday night action replaces a policy resolution passed almost two years ago which only permitted street signs that are covered in the State and Federally adopted Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
It called for the city to no longer install child specialty warning signs and to remove those in place.
A motion to revisit the 2023 policy was voted down 5-4 on July 28 but the City Council changed course August 25 and voted 6-1 to revisit it.
The D.M.S. has received requests over the years from residents to install specialty message or special needs signs. But Deputy D.M.S. Director Joe Thornburg said their research indicated the signs have little or no effect on driving behavior and may give the impression that it is safe for children to play in the street.
The resolution passed by the City Council Monday night takes effect immediately.
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