County Highway Department Superintendent Larry Jensen shows damaged signs recently removed and replaced. The department is responsible for maintaining about 7,000 signs.

Damaged or missing street signs create expensive replacement work for the Brookings County Highway Department, charged with maintaining more than 6,000 road signs and the 936 signs marking rural streets and avenues in the 911 system.

Highway Superintendent Larry Jensen says the increasing price of steel makes buying new replacement signs more expensive. Each stop sign costs about $50.

Jensen estimates the county spends between $25,000 and $30,000 annually in sign repair and maintenance. He's seen shots from rifles, shotguns and paintball guns. All leave permanent damage.

There's no average lifespan for signs in Brookings County. If left alone, they last about five years, but Jensen remembers installing a sign used for target prac- tice just days later that requiring a second replacement effort.

The 911 rural addressing project to mark streets and avenues began in 1994, followed by rural resident addressing and signage in 2005. The new 911 system is a faster way of directing emergency response vehicles and first responders to the scene by using street and address numbers instead of mile-by-mile directions, said Brookings County Sheriff Marty Stanwick.

"It could be crucial for someone needing help," said Stanwick. The signs also help local and out-oftown drivers find their destinations.

Stanwick said the public could help officers solve damaging or removing signage incidents that are tough to crack without a witness seeing the occurrence.

"We need more eyes and ears out there to let us know if they see anything suspicious," he said.

Convicted offenders have received sentences including 40 hours of community service with the Highway Department, Stanwick said. The sentence depends on the cost of the sign, but most are Class 2 misdemeanors. Jail time, community service and fines are all possible sentencing options for the judge.

Contact Ashley Allgaier at aallgaier @brookingsregister.com.