This drawing shows the standard message that would appear on memorial markers placed at the scene of accidents in unincorporated areas of the county.
CLEARWATER - Families and friends of people who died in an accident in unincorporated areas of the county can request a free memorial marker - thanks to a policy approved by the county Board of Commissioners on June 20.
The new policy establishes guidelines for placing standardized roadside memorials for people who have died because of a motor vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle crash within county maintained right-of-way on roads in unincorporated areas.
Pete Yauch, county director of transportation, said legally roadside memorials made by families and friends placed in right-of-ways were not supposed to be there. Because of the sensitivity of the issue, the county has maintained a hands-off approach unless the memorial created a problem, Yauch said. Problems with memorials include excessive size and obstructing views.
The new policy would allow families and friends to request that the county put up an aluminum sign 15 to 18 inches in diameter with a white background and black letters that says "Drive Safely - In Memory." The family would have the option of adding the deceased name to the sign.
The policy also would allow families to request a message specific to the type of crash as long as the message would fit on the sign. Examples of alternate messages include "Don't Drink and Drive," Buckle Up," or "Slow Down."
The sign would be placed at a height of 3.5 feet from the ground to the top of the sign and remain for two years unless it needed to be removed earlier because of construction activities. At the end of two years, the sign would be removed during regular maintenance in the area, Yauch said.
Yauch said he would like to make it possible for families to request to get the sign after it was removed if they wanted it. The county would pay for the design, construction, installation, maintenance and removal of the marker.
Yauch said the signs were designed much like those used by the Florida Department of Transportation. He said requests for signs had been received from the public. He said currently only the city of Largo had a policy about roadside memorials
Requests for memorial markers can be submitted in writing to the Traffic Engineering Division of Public Works by filling out a request form. Yauch said immediate family members or friends could make requests. He said to approve requests from friends, permission in writing from the immediate family would be needed.
Yauch said the new markers would replace those made by families and friends.
"It is not the intent to do away with existing memorials," he said.
Existing memorials would be removed as they deteriorated or if they created a problem, he said.
Commissioner Susan Latvala asked about the transition period. She gave an example of a recent crash in Palm Harbor where a memorial had been put up the next day.
"Would we go out there and rip up what they have," she asked.
Yauch said memorials put up by families and friends would not be removed unless they were a hazard.
Commissioners expressed concern about how the policy would affect grieving families.
"I would hate to see red tape and bureaucracy add to a family's woe," said Commissioner Calvin Harris.
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