A policy containing rates for adding messages to the electronic sign installed on the west side of the Bruce Barton Fire Hall was introduced to Champlain councillors at its committee of the whole meeting held on March 5, 2019 at Champlain Township.
The draft policy would see organizations located within Champlain Township pay $15 to have an event or message on the sign for seven days; the cost would be $20 for 14 days and $50 for one to three months. For organizations not located within Champlain Township, the cost would be $40 for 7 days, $50 for 14 days and $100 for one to three months.
Businesses located within Champlain Township can also take advantage of advertising on the sign. The cost for businesses would be $75 for seven days, $100 for 14 days, $150 for six months and $270 for one year. For businesses not located in Champlain Township, the cost would be $100 for seven days, $125 for 14 days, $175 for six months and $315 for one year.
Champlain Township residents would pay $50 for three days of having a message or event installed on the sign while non-residents would pay $75 for three days.
Champlain Township Director of Parks and Recreation Lisa Burroughs said that the township can accept as many messages as it wants to, and that she has a software program that converts the text into a jpg image to be displayed on the sign.
L’Orignal councillor André Roy suggested finding a better place for the sign. Councillor Jacques Lacelle agreed.
Vankleek Hill councillor Peter Barton pointed out that funds were approved for the Vankleek Hill Business and Merchant Association, which wanted to install a type of electronic signage in the green space next to the post office, pending completion of that project.
Longueuil councillor Violaine Tittley said that in Lachute, access to an electronic sign at the entrance to the town was free of charge for non-profit groups.
The sign policy will be presented to council for review and/or approval at its regular meeting on March 12, 2019.
