Right Locations Sought for 'Welcome' Signs at Village Entrances

After receiving a substantial donation from Quad/Graphics, the village is looking into buying new “Welcome to Sussex” signs for the major roads leading into Sussex.

Two years ago, Quad donated $50,000 to the village for entrance signs, the only stipulation being the business’ name would need to be featured somewhere on the sign.

“We think we can afford to do three signs with the money,” said Melissa Weiss, assistant to the village administrator. “They would be similar to the sign. A standard stone sign with a plaque. We were thinking they would cost $12,000-$13,000 per sign, but we haven’t gotten any quotes yet.”

The next step is deciding where to put them and what the design should look like. There are “Welcome” signs on Good Hope Road, Maple Avenue near and Main Street near .

Public Works board members agreed that the best places to have welcome signs would be on Highway 74 near Vulcan, and on Main Street by Dive Bar, considering the amount of traffic on those roads.

“You’ll never see a sign on Highway 164 because the road is just too huge and you’d never see it,” said Jeremy Smith, the village administrator. “Also, along state highways we’re going to need to secure easements on the private property.”

Committee members agreed that with the huge Sussex water tower on Hwy. 164, a sign wasn’t needed anyway. The village is also talking with Ron Stortz, owner of Dive Bar, to get permissions for building a new sign where the current, rotted one stands.

Committee member Jason Wegner also suggested building some sort of “Downtown Sussex” signs at each end of Main Street. With the revving up, Wegner said it might show Sussex has a defined downtown.

“I’m just thinking the outside borders of Sussex are flexible, but we have a vision of the core of the village,” said Wegner. “It could be kind of like Wauwatosa or Cedarburg. Yes, you have entry monuments on the highways, but maybe the CDA can look into having some kind of 'downtown' Sussex signs.  It would like something more than the metal signs that say 'downtown.' Make it more permanent.”

The committee members said they would talk about the prospect of “downtown” signs more when the Main Street development is further along.