Champlain Township has approved a new policy for its electronic sign located on the west side of the Bruce Barton Fire Station.

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. At its March 12 meeting, council made a few changes to the policy, which was brought forward in the April 9 council agenda for approval.

Not-for-profit organizations will be able to post their community events on the electronic sign for free. There will be a $40 charge for a seven-day posting for community events organized by groups which are not located within the borders of Champlain Township.

For organizations wanting to display other types of messages, there will be a $15 charge for 7 days, a  $20 charge for 14 days and $50 for a message to be displayed from one to three months. The rates for organizational messages originating from outside the township will be $40 for seven days, $50 for 14 days and $100 for one to three months.

Organizations must supply their message in a jpg format or pay an additional $25 for set-up.

Businesses will also have the opportunity advertise on the sign. For businesses located within the township, the cost will be $75 for seven days, $100 for 14 days, $250 for six months and $475 for one year. Note that a $50 additional fee will apply for changes made to ads.

For businesses located outside the township, the rates are $125 for seven days, $150 for 14 days, $300 for six months and $525 for one year.

Businesses can save 10 per cent by purchasing two ad messages and can save 25 per cent by purchasing three ad messages. Ads must be supplied in a jpg format or businesses must pay an additional $50 charge for set-up.

Individuals can purchase space on the electronic sign by spending $50 for three days and non-residents will pay $75 to have a message displayed for three days. That cost includes creation and set-up of the message for displaying on the electronic sign.

Champlain Township Director of Parks and Recreation Lisa Burroughs has 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.