1. Determine bracket and sign design:
Our Beautification Committee asked a resident architect to design 3-4 signs and brackets. From these, the Board chose 2 designs for each, put them on a ballot, and distributed to the neighborhood via our newsletter. Voting could also be done at our website. We received over 150 responses, and the winner was a 2-to-1 favorite.

While #1 is in process....
2. Inventory existing lampposts:
Make a location map and a chart listing condition of each post, circumference of each at point where sign will be attached, and necessary repairs.

3. Schedule lamppost repairs:
To replace leaning/rusted-out/damaged lampposts:
Kip White, TXU/Oncor at (214) 360-6617 Fax (214) 360-6673
or contact Ron Turner at RTURNER4@oncorgroup.com
We had 7 posts replaced.

To replace burned-out bulbs, old or dirty globes:
Oncor Outage Center 1-888-313-4747, or go to www.oncorgroup.com, select street light outages, and enter a work order for each. You will need to know each location before you do this.

To move a street sign (we had a couple attached to our lampposts):
Traffic sign:
     Alex Wong
     P.E. Program Manager, City of Dallas Public Works/Transportation
     (214) 670-7654
DART sign:
     Steve Secrest, DART Community Affairs
     (214) 749-3454 and (214) 749-2543

To repaint existing lampposts:
Complete the attached release form. Ron Turner, or whoever your contact is at Oncor, will deliver the paint for your posts and pick up the form as soon as you notify him that the form is completed. If you can get a volunteer neighborhood group to do this, you will save a bunch of money. We had a local paint contractor do this for us @ $17 per pole.

4. Get bids on both signs and bracket/hardware:
SIGNS: Diamond Signs screen-printed our aluminum signs and we were very pleased; however, there are hundreds of options in the yellow pages. Nathan at nldiamondsigns@aol.com (972) 554-6781 ext. 3 Each double-sided sign cost around $28, which included the powder-coat custom cream color our architect chose for the background. Our architect worked with Nathan on the position of the holes in the sign, color, etc. Two signs hang from each bracket. Have extra signs made for replacements due to damage. To have only a few made is very expensive due to the setup charge.

BRACKETS AND HARDWARE: To keep the price down, we contacted foundries rather than retailers and chose S&L Designs because they were most responsive. The hardware is stainless steel, with aluminum brackets (to prevent rust). Brad Lott at sandldesigns@aol.com (214) 742-6417 Another consideration would be a sand-casting foundry, which could make a one-piece bracket. For this option try A&B Foundry, (972) 247-3579, 11165 Denton Drive (Ozzie).

Each set of hanging hardware cost in the mid-$30s from S&L Designs. The Lott family is great to work with. Have them weld on the bracket arms so that they are stationary. Ours are only spot-welded and some have come off, so we're going to have to firm up all 30 of them somehow.

5. Choose vendors; get turnaround times.
Your architect, sign manufacturer, and bracket company will need to communicate so that holes in your signs line up with bracket attachments.

6. Paint brackets (if unpainted)
We spray-painted our brackets and hardware, although brushed-on paint would have done a better job.

7. Attach signs to brackets and hardware

8. Schedule installation with City
The City has to actually hang the signs. They charged around $20 per lamppost and won't replace any that are knocked off by traffic, since we wanted the signs to face outward.
Alex Wong, P.E. Program Manager, City of Dallas Public Works/Transportation (214) 670-7654

EXPENSES:
Painting (21@$17)        $ 357
Signs (80@$28)            $2240
Brackets (30@$34)       $1020
Sign-hanging (30@$20) $ 600
TOTAL:                       $4217
 

Home        GHNA Info        Neighborhood Activities        CrimeWatch
Conservation District        How To...        E-Mail Us