Special Electronics

Deputy City Manager: Mike Mathews Special Electronics Director: Clifford Boehms

The Special Electronics department consists of a two man crew. Due to the nature of this department, the two men are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

The primary responsibility of this department is to maintain 39 signalized intersections within the Roswell city limits.

Signal heads and pedestrian heads are monitored daily to ensure proper functioning. When there is a malfunctioning situation, the malfunction is immediately fixed. The malfunctioning situations are often caused as a result of an accident, or the LED’s need replacement. A mal-functioning light is also caused due to weather, radar detection or camera failure. It is critical that each intersection’s controller, which is the computer that runs the intersection, is fully maintained and operational at all times. Annual testing of all equipment is done to ensure safe operation and all safety standards are being met.

Special Electronics maintains all of the pedestrian lights on Main Street, Second Street, Pioneer Plaza, and the Roswell Civic Center. All public school zone flashers are maintained. This includes the scheduling and programming of each zone.

Approximately 2000 responses to “one call” utility locates are performed annually. These locates identify City underground electrical lines in right of way areas. This increases the integrity of the electrical lines from damage or interruption of service while excavations are taking place.

Emergencies & Damage to Traffic Signals All emergency and non-emergency calls are responded to within 15 to 30 minutes of receiving the call. There were 96 emergency call outs that were responded to in 2019.

Damage to traffic signals is often due to vehicular damage. Some of the more significant accidents which involved replacement of equipment this year are listed as follows:

2nd Street & Sycamore Ave

Traffic Control Cabinet replaced.

On N. Union near 4th Street

Pole & base replaced

N. Main Street & Berrendo

Traffic Control Cabinet replaced.

S. Main & Brasher Rd 81

The average cost of each cabinet replaced is $18,000.00

Up Grades to the Traffic Control System Upgrades of equipment include removing detection Cameras systems and installing the new Traffic Camera systems. This included pulling new wire, the installation of new equipment and the programming of each intersection. The intersections that were upgraded are the following:

2nd Street & Atkinson Ave 2nd Street & Garden Ave 2nd Street & Virginia Ave 2nd Street & Pennsylvania 2nd Street & Lea Ave S. Main & Summit Rd S. Main & Alameda St0 N. Main & 5th Street

Traffic Control Cabinet replaced.

Special Electronics

Director of Engineering: Louis Najar Special Electronics Director: Clifford Boehms

The cost to upgrade one intersection averages $25,000.

City personnel supported the State DOT rewiring of the intersections of S. Main Street & McGaffey, providing technical support and loan of traffic control equipment.

Providing safe, dependable electrical power for all of the city of Roswell special events fall under the responsibility of the Special Electronics department. The following events include Cinco De Mayo, Hike It and Spike It, the UFO festival, Chili Cheese festival, Roswell Christmas Railroad, the Electric Light parade and all other city sponsored events not specifically mentioned here.

Prior to each event, electrical wire, generators, connectors have to be placed for each vendor. Each vendor’s electrical requirements have to be met for their operation and the vendor’s have to be monitored during the event to ensure their use of city supplied power is not abused and public safety is adhered to at all times. Special Electronics is on site or on call during the entire event. Upon completion of the event, Special Electronics rolls up and removes all the wire, generators, connectors and other equipment to ensure public safety.

The American flags are hung on Main Street four times a year. The flags are hung for Veteran’s day, Memorial Day, 4th of July and on Flag Day. The Flags are taken down after the specific day. The snowflakes are hung on Main Street prior to the holidays and taken down after the holidays.