Plans for new gateway and wayfinding signage in Saugeen Shores continue.
But not all councillors are pleased with the current plan and want the opportunity to make some changes.
Kara Van Myall of the Bruce County Planning Department says they’ll find out in August if they’ve been successful with an application for funding from the federal Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) for the project — which includes new gateway and directional signs for both Saugeen Shores and Kincardine.
Van Myall says the town was planning to implement the program over three years, but if the CAF funding comes through, it will happen in a tighter time frame.
The logo for the Port Elgin gateway sign includes an image of a shoreline and sunset, while the Southampton logo — which will incorporate the Chantry Island lighthouse and the “Oldest Port on the Bruce Coast,” motto is still being finalized.
The plan is to have 63 signs directing visitors to various landmarks in Port Elgin, and 60 signs for the same types of places in Southampton.
Councillor Diane Huber is disappointed with what signs are proposed and where they’ll be located, especially in Southampton.
She says signs are planned for some parks and facilities that don’t need them, while other more prominent places aren’t getting enough signage.
Huber also questions the nearly 800 thousand dollar cost of the project — if it is all implemented and says one of the signs alone will cost five thousand dollars.
She says there are many things in the plan that don’t make sense to her, and she wants to be sure the attractions slated for new signage are the ones the community would be proud to show off to visitors.
Huber says she attended the public meetings that were held by Corbin Design — the company that developed the plan, and realizes they spent a couple of days in the community, but questions if they spent much time talking with local tourism officials to find out what destinations in Saugeen Shores need signage.
Saugeen Shores has budgeted 75 thousand dollars for the project this year and has also applied for over 200 thousand dollars from the province’s Rural Economic Development program.
Over 190 thousand dollars from the county will also be available if the federal grant money comes through.
The amount of money available will affect how much of the plan gets implemented.
Right now, gateway and wayfinding signs are being given priority.
Huber, and Councillor Victoria Serda want to know if the public, and council will have the opportunity to give more input about the plan.
Serda, a member of the Accessibility Committee, wants to be sure the signs will be easy for those with low vision to read.
Mayor Mike Smith says the public meetings were held to gather opinions on the plan, but public comments can still be directed to the Community Services Department, and stresses no final decision has yet been made on how much of the plan to implement.
Deputy Mayor Doug Freiburger wants to be sure that when the signage program is implemented, that local labour and materials are used, adding he was disappointed when Traverse City Michigan-based Corbin Design was selected to develop the plan.