Kokomo facing a signal crisis

Technicians quit, leaving city without ability to fix traffic lights

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Last Friday, the City of Kokomo’s two traffic signal technicians quit, leaving the city without anyone who knows how to monitor, maintain, and repair the dozens of signals which control traffic throughout the city.

The fallout from the departures could be harmful. The technicians are responsible for bringing traffic signals back online when there is an outage, and they monitor the light timing to ensure traffic flows smoothly. Without that work being done, travelling in the city could become more difficult.

According to Mayor Tyler Moore, the city is searching for replacements, but in the meantime will outsource the work to private contractors.

“We're working with engineering to try and find a way to entice somebody to apply because right now we don't have anybody that's applied for the positions,” said Moore. “It’s my understanding that there has been communication with J & J Electric, which offered support on a regular basis.

“There also have been a few consultants that have offered the same type of support work in other communities that don't have signal techs. So those communications have started now, I don't long we'll wait before putting out some type of RFP (Request For Proposal) to get something definite. But until we find at least one, if not two, signal techs that we feel are qualified to meet those needs, then there's going to be the need for consultants and contractors.”

Finding qualified signal technicians isn’t a simple matter. The techs must have at least two years of on-the-job training and experience and must have completed certifications through the International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA).

The departures had fallen under the mayor’s radar, as the Lantern’s questioning came as a surprise to Moore. He reached out to Kokomo Street Superintendent Clint Van Natter to ask how the department was handling the situation.

“I reached out to Clint and asked where are we with these two guys leaving,” said Moore. “He said we can't get anybody to apply. A lot of times you can recruit from within. Because those aren't union positions, there's not a desire from within for those to be filled.”

Signal techs had sought in the past to join AFSCME, the union which represents many of the city employees, but those requests went unfulfilled. Given the current situation, Moore is willing to consider unionizing the positions now if it makes a difference in recruitment.

“I mean, only if we feel that there are those qualified in-house that would be willing to take those positions or fill them,” said Moore. “I guess, in the same way with foreman positions that open up, even though those aren't union, you still get folks from within to apply for those.

“If there are specifics about those positions that we need to look at to entice others to do it, I don't know. Whether or not those need to be union? I don't know.”