NORTH

R.J. Haynie will replace signals at Lakefield Drive, Technology Circle, St. Marlo Country Club Parkway, Rogers Bridge Road and Bell Road, according to a staff report to the council.

Traffic signals and their signal cabinets need to be replaced as they reach the end of their useful lives, staff said. The new signals will be capable of producing a flashing yellow arrow for left turns, “which provides greater flexibility in signal timing.”

Haynie submitted the only bid of eight companies that downloaded bid documents, staff said, probably because of the relatively small size of the project and the fact, few firms locally and regionally do signal work. Still, staff considered the bid fair and recommended that Haynie get the job. The contractor will have 120 days to complete the work after receiving the notice to proceed.

DAVID IBATA FOR THE AJC

Alpharetta

City advises residents: coyotes on the prowl

Alpharetta is advising residents that at this time of year, coyotes are having pups and are on the prowl for food. People should not leave out garbage, pet food or small pets that could be grabbed for a meal, even from fenced yards.

Coyotes, while shy, are “amazingly intelligent and can easily find ways to get inside fenced areas if they see potential food or other reasons to get inside,” the city says.

Because the animals typically pose no threat to humans, Alpharetta does not support or endorse coyote eradication programs. It discourages residents from hiring professional trappers unless an animal appears aggressive; remove one coyote, and another will show up to take its place.

“Coyotes are a natural part of our environment and serve a very useful purpose, controlling the population of small animals and maintaining a balance in their habitat,” the city says. “The best thing that we can do as residents is learn to safely coexist by not encouraging human interaction and enjoying the occasional coyote sighting from a safe distance.”

DAVID IBATA FOR THE AJC

Canton

City OKs races for summer fundraisers

The Canton City Council has approved two 5K races to raise funds for worthy causes; they may affect local traffic on two dates this summer.

The 7th Annual Collins Dixon Bend Your Knees 5K will have an estimated 500 attendees July 21; and the 5K for a Day for Reinhardt, 200 to 300 attendees Sept. 15. Both races start at 8 a.m. and go for 90 minutes to two hours, with post-race activities to follow.

The Collins Dixon race seeks to raise funds for families of children with brain tumors, according to the event application. It will start at 1st Baptist Church of Canton, follow Reservoir Drive to Reinhardt College Parkway to Riverstone Boulevard, turn around at Bluffs Parkway and return to the church.

The Reinhardt 5K raises funds for Reinhardt University scholarships, the event application says. It will start on the square in downtown Canton, loop the square once, head east on Main Street to Jeannette Street, Jeannette to Hospital Court, Hospital to Muriel Street, and Muriel to Main and return to the starting point.

DAVID IBATA FOR THE AJC

UPCOMING