Tuesday, Apr. 01, 2008

Digital sign may replace old banner

Since the late 1980s, a banner hanging over Santa Fe Street has alerted drivers about city events. It soon could be a thing of the past.

City councilmembers got a preview April 1 of a 5-by-10-foot digital sign that could replace the banner.

The updated technology would conform with the city’s Santa Fe Streetscape project to revitalize downtown.

“I would prefer to see a new communication method rather than the outdated banner,” Councilmember Jim Randall said.

But Mayor Mike Copeland said he opposes an electronic sign — in part because the city doesn’t allow them in the private sector.

Councilmember Larry Campbell said he doesn’t have a strong opinion either way. The city has $16,000 to replace banner poles, but the new sign could cost $135,000, said Mike Latka, a senior project manager with the city.

Daktronics, the company that made the sign, recently sold a 4-by-8-foot sign to Parsons, Kan., for $28,000, but that sign didn’t include some the aesthetics that could be added near Olathe’s sign.

“Now is not the time to spend over $100,000 on an unnecessary expenditure,” Copeland said.

The sign’s advantages include being able to update it from an office computer instead of by traffic operations staff members, who are put at risk and sometimes disrupt traffic.

City staff recommended the project go to bid to get the least-expensive proposal. If approved, the sign’s cost could be added to the $7.4 million Streetscape project.

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