Sign of the times? Maybe not
Photo by Dianne Nichols
Community rejects Glen Arbor Town Hall digital sign, which foretells events but says even more
By Linda Alice Dewey
Sun contributor
It’s been described as garish, loud, and expensive, and it surprised the community.
“It is controversial,” admits Glen Arbor township supervisor Peter Van Nort, when asked about the new digital sign which was installed on the front lawn of the township hall in early August. Commonly referred to as “the Sign,” it’s actually comprised of two signs placed at opposing angles so it can be read from either direction. Few will miss it as they drive by.
First of all, it’s large. The bottom half of each measures 3 feet x 8 feet and features pixelated LED letters and images, reminiscent of Lite Brite toy sets. The equivalent top half is similar in design to the Glen Arbor entrance signs as you enter town from the east and from the south on M-22, which many find attractive. Mounted, it’s 8 feet tall.
Secondly, the sign cost $26,000 plus $2,200 in wiring. It was included in this year’s general budget after the township board took bids last November and December.
Did Glen Arbor need this?
According to Van Nort, 135 annual events occur in Glen Arbor, and most need promotional signage. There began to be sign pollution.
“We were at a time when people were competing for banners across the road,” says township treasurer Terry Gretzema. “There were so many things going on concurrently that the town was filling up [with signs].”
The board looked at installing sturdy aluminum posts for banners across M-22, but it proved expensive, and “the road commission didn’t like it.” In the meantime, the Chamber of Commerce purchased a yellow hand setup sign at least five years ago that rolled out in front of the town hall to announce upcoming events, but it wasn’t doing the job.
“The yellow sign was not readable by passing cars because it was low,” notes Gretzema.
It was also difficult to use. Linda Young sits on multiple boards and committees of community organizations. She is one who, as she puts it, “had to take on the arduous task of installing the letters on the old portable sign. It was rusty, difficult to move, and hard to fit the letters—frankly, a horrid chore in freezing winter temps or broiling summer sun.”
Gretzema described the continuing hassle with the yellow sign. People who came in to use it “were constantly complaining,” he says. “Letters would blow off; there was no place for the chamber to store it, so it became our responsibility. It was thrust on our office. People would ask for help; some would do it themselves.”
What was the process?
Patricia Widmayer, events coordinator for the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of the Glen Arbor Bed and Breakfast, first approached the township about a sign. “Overall we just desperately needed a town sign to be able to share what was happening in the community,” she explains, “because it was just so difficult.”
Informal discussions about the problem began about three years ago. “It was just a light discussion,” recalls Gretzema. “Often times things start with the officers and work their way to board discussions. We’re the ones here most of the year and deal with people who [come in with problems.]”
The discussions never became formal board discussions, although Gretzema did initial research. Then in November 2016, the new administration was elected. Widmayer spoke with Van Nort, the new township supervisor.
Van Nort says he liked the idea, “studied up on it, got an agreement from the board to get bids, identified three sign suppliers in the area—from Traverse City, got bids, presented the bids to the township board along with the mockup of what the sign would look like, including visuals of other signs that these companies had done for other communities. I evaluated the bids,” he continues, “presented the results, and got a unanimous vote to go forward.” That was this past spring.
Was there public input?
Widmayer, who chairs both the Holiday Marketplace and Pumpkin Fest, was surprised when she first saw the new sign. “I have to admit that what I thought we were getting was something smaller, because we never saw what he was looking at,” she says. “When he was talking with me, he was looking at catalogues.”
General public input on the sign’s cost, design, and size was never sought. “Was there ever a formal announcement that we’re goanna evaluate this kind of thing?” Van Nort asked. “No there wasn’t. There was all kinds of dialogue in the community about ‘How do we go about getting information out?’” he adds, speaking of the constant issue of how to publicize upcoming events.
“I regret that there wasn’t an effort made to allow people to respond to the design,” Young says. “Certainly those of us who valued the need for a sign would have provided input, if invited. There is a wealth of graphic design experience in the area that I wish had been involved in the design process before going to sign makers.”
Gretzema says there were major donors who said they would help fund it. In the end, the board opted to pay for it out of the general fund. He also notes that the sign was not for the board. “This is totally for the benefit of the nonprofit organizations that are constantly trying to raise money here,” he says.
Two days after the August 21 board meeting, the sign went black, which might lead one to believe it was in response to the uproar.
It’s not. “This morning we took the sign down,” said supervisor Van Nort, “because the only announcement we had was Farmers Market.” That announcement will be up again on Monday. The sign will be used as needed, he says. “Our plan is continue to use it until we make a new plan.”
Regarding the public outcry, “It’s not unanimous,” he reports. “I would not be surprised if we get some signatures from people who say they want the sign.”
