Signage, Library Position Decisions Put on Hold

The Finance Committee met Tuesday night, and deferred two items on the agenda, one regarding two library positions and another for signage at the city hall and police complex.

The Library Board will be meeting Wednesday night, and finance felt there was more discussion needed before they could make any decisions. 

At issue is a full time Library Clerk-Circulation/Support Services position, which is currently open due to a retirement, as well as a part-time Library Clerk - Circulation/Support Services position, which will be open as of September 2 due to a retirement and a part-time Reference Librarian position, which has been open due to a resignation.

Also deferred for approval was a signage and lighting plan for the City Hall and Police Department complex.  Originally the captial budget included $10,000 for lighting and $15,000 for signage.  Lighting was deemed to be deteriorating, but after receiving quotes in excess of the budget, Jeff Muenkel said they would work with the DPW to refurbish the lights and readdress the situation in the future.  

Current signage is posted at Pioneer Drive and Racine Avenue, and Muenkel said that residents have expressed some confusion as to where to go for the Police Department and City Hall, especially as the police department signage is difficult to see.  In addition, the new signage would match the signage posted along Moorland Road and Racine Avenue.

Options included elevated signs, monument designs as well as a reader board sign that would provide the city with the ability to post electronic messages. However the total costs estimated for some of these options exceed $25,000 and the committee would need council approval to proceed on any of them.  Reader board options would place costs nearer to $30,000, and as some pointed out, may not be as well read at that location versus somewhere downtown. The committee also discussed whether they should also consider having a sign on the police department building to help residents identify it as such.

Ultimately, the committee agreed to put the options out for further bids to address all scenarios, especially as there is no immediate need for the signs to be replaced.