The Battlefords is going ahead with sign corridors to be established at surrounding highway entrances to the community.
The sign corridors have been established at the entrances along Highways 4, 16, 29 and 40 into the Battlefords and will permit private advertising signs to be put up to promote goods and services. According to the city these will be specifically for local area enterprises or organizations.
The signs are being established by the Battlefords Marketing Alliance consisting of the City of North Battleford, Town of Battleford, the RM of North Battleford and RM of Battle River.
The program will be administered by City of North Battleford's planning and development team, and they will be promoting sign specifications set out by 20-twenty Signs. 20-twenty is the private manufacturer who had approached the marketing alliance with respect to sign specifications, images and marketing plans.
It took a number of months to get all the required approvals and establish all the proper resolutions in place from the municipalities and RMs, but the corridors are now established and ready to proceed.
According to North Battleford Director of Business Development Denis Lavertu, the maximum length of the sign corridor will be five kilometers from the city limits. He told council Monday the signs that will be constructed by 20-twenty and built according to guidelines and specifications "to ensure the aesthetics of these signs were consistent and also very professional," said Lavertu. The plan is to use steel poles, high beams and lighting for the signs, similar to signs currently in place in the Airdrie area. Land has been secured for each of the corridors where signs will be set up.
Businesses and organizations wishing to advertise within those corridors will be required to obtain the land leases and apply to the city for permit approvals. Obtaining approvals will be a straightforward process administered out of city hall in North Battleford. The City expects to collect a minimal fee of $50 per application.
Lavertu also said on Monday, however, that the corridor along Highway 16 east of the city will not be pursued at this time because there are other established corridors set up by First Nations at those locations.
