Title
Receive an update on the George Moses Horton Sign project and provide direction
Abstract
Introduction & Background: On June 16, 2025, the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution requesting that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) erect signs on US 15-501 at the Orange County and Lee County lines honoring George Moses Horton. The original approach developed with NCDOT included a standard welcome sign and a supplemental sign honoring Horton.
In July 2025, NCDOT informed staff that the supplemental sign could not be produced under the federal 2023 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Staff subsequently worked with NCDOT to identify an alternative within its standard sign program; however, no suitable option was available that would fulfill the intent of the Board's resolution.
Discussion & Analysis: Staff identified gateway signage as the primary alternative for displaying signage that specifically honors George Moses Horton. Gateway signs are locally initiated and funded but provide greater flexibility in design and messaging than standard NCDOT jurisdictional boundary signs.
If directed by the Board, the project would proceed in two phases:
* Phase 1 - Design and NCDOT Coordination: Engage a qualified firm to develop preliminary concepts, evaluate potential locations, coordinate with NCDOT, and complete any required traffic-safety or technical analysis.
* Phase 2 - Fabrication, Installation, and Maintenance: Return to the Board with proposed designs, locations, and estimated costs before separately procuring fabrication and installation. The County would be responsible for ongoing maintenance.
If the Board would like to proceed with Phase 1, staff is requesting approval of a project-specific resolution exempting the professional services contract from the Mini-Brooks Act and applicable Chatham County procurement policies.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: The project supports Plan Chatham Goal 1: Preserve ...
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