INNISFAIL - The plan to build a super-sized electronic digital message sign at the eastern gateway into the community has been officially approved by town council.
The new sign at the intersection of 50th Street and Highway 2A, which could be up to 20 feet tall and nine feet wide and have a startup price tag of up to $100,000, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Formal approval came at council's regular meeting on June 10. Council gave the green light for the town to enter into a partnership with the Innisfail & District Chamber of Commerce on the construction and maintenance of the sign, and to approve a budget of $50,000, half of the projected overall cost to be split evenly with the chamber. The town's $50,000 share will come from the Wayfinding Signage Project, which to date, has come significantly under budget.
Mark Kemball, co-president of the chamber, said he was "extremely happy and excited" the project is moving ahead and is looking forward to the partnership with the Town of Innisfail.
"I think we need to do more things together to try and move this community in the same direction. If everybody is moving in the same direction we are going to be far better off," said Kemball, adding the chamber's next step is to ratify the agreement from its end, and then provide the chamber's share of the cost once the tender process is completed.
"And hopefully we will see a sign up this year. That's my hope," he said, adding that once the chamber ratifies the agreement a process will start to convince local businesses to purchase advertising on the new digital sign. "I don't think that will difficult."
Rod Fraser, the town's director of operational services, said while the formal town agreement has been approved there are other steps the project must follow, including issuing the tender for the project. He said it's hoped the sign will be completed by the end of the year but cautioned there are some "hoops" yet that have to be jumped through, notably with Alberta Transportation.
"That process has been started with them," said Fraser of the application process with the province. "Anything that is near or close to a provincial highway (Highway 2A) we need to consult with Alberta Transporation. That process is underway. That is another hoop for us to jump through.
"We are going to look to put things in place to make it happen."
The approved agreement states the chamber would operate the sign on behalf of both parties, and pay for monthly utilities and internet and provide bookkeeping. The agreement also states the chamber will receive all income from the sign as the organization is handling all of the digital sign’s management and operations. It is also stated the town will receive advertising and associated copy design costs at no charge. The town will manage its own content, as well as community event notices.
Businesses will be charged for advertising, with those revenues used to fund the operation, maintenance and future replacement of the sign. The agreement states advertising prices for businesses start at $200 per month, which includes a $25 setup fee to rotate through an up to 20-ad cycle on the digital sign. There is also an extra $100 fee for any artwork required for a digital ad.
The approved agreement additionally states that advertisement of events for local sports and community non-profit groups be provided for free.
The agreement also calls for the finances and operations of the digital sign to be reviewed after the first year, and if necessary, adjustments made.
