Clintonville contributes $1,000 toward project
By Bert Lehman
The city of Clintonville will contribute $1,000 toward the purchase of new street banners to be placed at three entry ways into the city.
The $1,000 contribution, which was recommended by the Finance Committee, was approved by the Clintonville City Council at its Nov. 12 meeting.
Last year, the city contributed $1,000 toward the placement of 34 street banners along Main Street on the south side of town by Fleet Farm. At the time, the cost of the banners totaled $3,400.
In addition to the $1,000 contributed by the city, Mayor Richard Beggs and resident Dr. Jerald Schoenike secured donations to cover the remaining cost.
At the Nov. 11 Finance Committee meeting, Beggs asked that the city contribute another $1,000 toward the purchase of additional banners. He said the material chosen for the banners purchased in 2018 proved to be inadequate.
“What we learned (last year) is that street banners are far more complex than one would think,” Beggs said. “We have learned a great deal about color, dimension, selection of patterns and manufacturers.”
He said the material used for the banners previously purchased might stand up in conditions in downtown, but not in the area by Fleet Farm because of the winds in that area.
A different material has been chosen for the new banners, as well as new designs, Beggs said.
Banners promote Seagrave, schools
At the city council meeting, Beggs said 10 banners will be purchased – five promoting the FWD Seagrave Museum and five promoting Clintonville schools.
He added that the new banners are more durable than the banners purchased last year, but that increased durability doubled the price of each banner.
The total cost for the 10 banners is around $2,500, Beggs said.
Ald. Tammy Strey-Hirt asked if the Clintonville School District or Seagrave Fire Apparatus donated money to the banner fund since the banners promote them.
Beggs said that they did not donate any money to the banner fund.
“Our thought here is that one of the city’s duties is to advertise itself, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Beggs said. “There are probably 50 different things you could put on here (banner) to advertise Clintonville. We just picked these two as a starter.”
The council unanimously approved the city contributing $1,000 toward new street banners, with the funds to come from undesignated fund balance.