By Robin Tarnowetzki
Journal Staff Writer
After being approved in August, the proposed LED sign at Centennial Park received approval for its final design at the city council meeting on Sept. 8.
The sign was included in the 2009 concept plan for Centennial Park, and soon after Carlton Trail Regional College expressed interest in being involved with the sign. The leisure services department partnered with the college and Humboldt Collegiate Institute to put the sign up. Half of the time on the sign will be for businesses and local organizations, while the other half will be community events and activities, and the charge for that will be minimal. The city gets 20 per cent of the ad revenue.
The total cost of the sign is an estimated $262,000. There was a capital investment of $100,000, the college committed $75,000, the HCI Reunion Committee contributed $50,000, and the city contributed $36,000.
"We anticipate we'll have our cost back in two years," said Darrell Lessmeister, director of community and leisure services.
The sign will be 28 feet high by 22 feet wide and have a double-sided LED screen that will be 10 feet high by 19 feet wide.
Construction of the sign is expected to begin this fall and Lessmeister is anticipating that it will be up by November. Prairie Signs is building the sign offsite and then assembling it in its final location. The location isn't set yet, but is expected to be set up opposite the sign for the Humboldt Mall.
