Local task force wants to update city’s welcome sign

By: 
Philip A. Janquart
Editor/Reporter

   The Greater Weiser Economic Development Task Force wants to replace the aging welcome signs located at the city’s north, south and west entrances.
 Primarily built using 4x4s and plywood, the signs, erected approximately 30 years ago and refurbished from time to time, were never intended as permanent structures and are ready to be replaced and relocated.
 To that end, the Task Force has launched a contest asking the public to submit design plans for new signs that would reflect the city’s character, values, and rural charm.
 “The Task Force has been working on driving tourism to the area and we thought one of the things we’d like to do is re-design those signs, so we want to run a contest to see if people can come up with some good ideas,” said Patrick Nauman, who serves as co-chairman of the task force.
 If a winning design is chosen from among the submissions, it would come with a potential $500 prize.
 “The design we choose will have a cash prize attached to it,” Nauman said. “We don’t know how much yet, but we are thinking somewhere around $500.”
 Participants, who are not required to be Weiser residents, have until Sept. 8 to submit their designs. Submissions can be dropped off at Weiser Classic Candy located at 449 State St.
 “We don’t need anything fancy. It can be just a sketch of what they want to do, maybe a little description, if they feel they need it, and obviously some contact information,” Nauman said.
 There are, however, some specific design features the Task Force would like to see incorporated, including some of the original concepts first developed by some local Eagle Scouts.
 “We love what they did. We do get a lot of comments throughout the city on the ‘We love our Kids, our Community, and our Country’ part of that, so we wanted to incorporate that into the new signs somehow,” Nauman said. “We are looking for something that is indicative of who we are, and it needs to be something that is more of a permanent structure to last for many years.”
 Preference will be given to designs that utilize natural resources, whether it is rock, metal, or even an upgraded “wood look,” Nauman added.
 The signs on Highway 95 may also be positioned further out from town to match the expansion of the city limits over the decades.
 “They were here when I moved to town 27 years ago,” said Weiser Mayor Randy Hibberd. “We are looking at putting them a little further out where they can be seen better.”
In addition, the Task Force, along with the City of Weiser, is currently exploring some yet-to-be announced ideas for the sign on the west side of town.
 The Task Force would submit the winning design and any accompanying information to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) for approval.
 “ITD is pretty particular on the types of signs you can do and so we may or may not have to take it to a design firm,” Nauman said. “There are all sorts of codes, especially when you start talking about lighting and set backs.”
 Upon approval, the conceptual design would go through formal development processes in the fall, with a potential spring construction start date.
 

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Weiser, ID 83672
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