ROCKWOOD – Welcome signage in Rockwood could soon undergo a complete refresh.
According to an update approved by Guelph/Eramosa council Monday afternoon, staff are currently working to identify the most suitable locations for three to four new Welcome to Rockwood signs at each entry point into town to help "boost community pride" and increase the area's "tourism appeal."
Each sign is proposed to be made of natural material to align with the community's natural features with "appropriate" lighting to ensure sign visibility at night in an energy-efficient manner. "Low-maintenance" landscaping features and an interchangeable event board are also proposed.
Currently, signs are suggested for Highway 7 at Dunbar Street and MacLennan Street, Highway 7 at Fall Street, Wellington Road 27, and Harris Street.
"The thinking was four roads in, four locations," said Coun. Mark Bouwmeester, who suggested installing new signs at a council meeting in October.
Coun. Steve Liebig asked what the benefit of installing a sign at Wellington Road 27, calling it a "weird location" and saying it might be better served if it was north of Wellington Road 27 near the OPP South Wellington Operations Centre.
Clerk Amanda Knight said they're still flushing out the exact locations and this location was suggested because they intend to install the signs at four points of entry into Rockwood.
If the Harris Street location moves forward, staff said they may need to negotiate with a private property owner to secure permission for installation.
While not against the proposal, Coun. Bruce Dickieson asked why the project funds aren't coming from the Rockwood hydro fund. So far, $50,000 from the economic development fund has been budgeted for the project.
Staff will report back to council with detailed cost estimates for approval once design options and quotes are received.
"I don't have a problem with some of it coming into the economic development fund but I don't think we should exhaust our entire allocation to this project because the main beneficiary is Rockwood," said Dickieson.
Calling $50,000 "the benchmark," Mayor Chris White defended the allocation, saying Rockwood is the township's commercial corridor and the signs are intended to support "those businesses down there with something they've been asking for for years."
Looking to the future, staff said there will be public engagement opportunities where residents can vote on one of three designs, which will be considered in the final design selection.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.