Councillor Jim Curry says the entrance signs into Drayton are in “deplorable condition” and he wants them taken down as soon as possible.
“We’re an embarrassment leaving them the way they are,” Curry told council last week.
He asked that all four signs, as well as the flower beds around them, be removed by the end of June and the township proceed with a request for proposals (RFP) for replacements.
Councillor Mike Downey said he would agree to the removal of the signs but suggested planting flowers in the flower beds may be the way to go.
Curry replied the Drayton Rotary Club took over that responsibility several years ago, but it is no longer willing to do the job.
However, he added, the club does have ideas for signs and would like to have some comment.
Clerk Patty Sinnamon suggested township staff meet with the club to discuss those options. Councillor Bruce Whale asked if the Drayton Festival Theatre should be consulted because it could be included on the sign.
Sinnamon replied the theatre will likely be featured on directional signs in the downtown area, but not on the village’s “gateway signs.”
Curry said the Mapleton entrance signs are also in bad condition and asked what council could do to address that. Sinnamon said the feedback she previously received was to replace current township signs with the basic blue road signs and go with enhanced gateway signs for each of the township’s urban areas.
“Oh, that will look nice,” Downey replied sarcastically, suggesting those signs are not the right choice.
Whale said he supports spending more money on the urban signs for places like Alma, Drayton, and Moorefield rather than on the Mapleton signs, which he feels serve little purpose.
Public Works Director Larry Lynch said his staff could have all the Drayton signs down in a day, but he was not sure that is the correct way to proceed, since at least two of the four could be improved by removing the lattice or doing a little painting.
Lynch said he could ask the county, but there is no guarantee he could even have those simple signs by Canada Day.
Lynch also questioned the idea of tearing down the eight “huge” Mapleton signs in favour of a small, basic road sign. He told council the posts for all the current signs are in great condition and would likely be wasted.
