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Canmore council approves $20K for new electric sign trailer

The opportunity to purchase an electric sign trailer for $10,000 less than what it would cost if it was bought next year saw Canmore's elected officials support the proposal brought forward last week by administration.
20200326 Canmore Sign COVID 19 0033
A sign along Highway 1A near the entrance to Canmore notifies drivers to stay home to help stop the speed of COVID-19 on Thursday (March 26). EVAN BUHLER RMO PHOTO⁠

CANMORE – Canmore council has approved spending $20,000 on a new electric sign trailer to help the municipality share public health messages with residents and visitors to the community.

General manager of municipal infrastructure Whitney Smithers presented the request for funding to council during a special meeting Tuesday (Dec. 15). 

The week prior, council had directed administration to set up signs at the entrances and exists to the community to discourage all non-essential travel. 

"We are proposing that we purchase another electric sign trailer for $20,000 and that would be funded through the tax stabilization reserve," Smithers said.

Smithers told council the municipality currently owns two electric sign trailers and four sign trailers that use letters that slide into place. All are already out in the community to communicate messages related to COVID-19 notifications and restrictions. 

She said the electric signs are more effective, as they are visible in the dark, and are less likely to be tampered with. 

Smithers added the reason for administration making the funding request outside the normal budget process was that an opportunity to purchase one of the trailers at a reduced price came up. 

The cost to rent an electric sign trailer is $140 a day, she added, making the purchase of one more cost effective in the long term. 

"When we look at the cost of rental, it is quite likely that we are going to see a longer term need for COVID messaging," she said. "It is entirely likely this will extend again in to the summer months with similar messaging around restrictions."

The Town's signs are also needed to communicate with the community about other projects, like recent pine beetle tree removal work being done that results in smoke in the area. 

"If we purchase the sign now, we can get it for about two-thirds of what we would pay next year," Smithers said. "This is definitely related to COVID messaging needs." 

Council unanimously approved the purchase. 

"I think this is an excellent expenditure of funds," said Councillor Joanna McCallum "We use these trailers, COVID or not, for a variety of messaging we want to move out to the community.

"And I appreciate the fact we are going to save $10,000 as well."

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