Five new welcome signs approved in Shelburne

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Shelburne is looking to give visitors a renewed first impression of the community with the approval of five new welcome signs entering the town limits. 

During their meeting on Jan. 29, Shelburne Town Council received a report from Jim Moss, director of development and operations, regarding the installation of five new entrance signs for the Town. 

The Town's last entrance signs were initially installed in 1995 and later refurbished around 2010. 

The signs were installed in three locations entering the Town of Shelburne, which included Hwy. 10 from the north, and Hwy. 89 on both the east and west ends of town. 

According to Moss's report, high winds have caused structural deterioration over the years resulting in two of the three entrance signs being removed and the last remaining sign, located on Hwy. 89 on the east side of town, being “badly weathered”. 

“It's bothered me the last few years, the condition of our entry signs and I get we held off because of the development, but I'm glad to see that we're at the point of putting them up,” said Mayor Wade Mills. “In many ways this is the first impression people have driving in.”

The new entrance signs will be placed in five locations leading into the Town of Shelburne, including the three original locations on Hwy. 10 and Hwy. 18 and two additional locations on County Rd. 124 and Victoria Street. 

The appearance of the new entrance signs will be reflective to provide visibility at night and include a lower sign with the Town's slogan “A People Place. A Change of Pace”. The signs are 17 feet, 2 inches high, with a width of 10 feet and will be mounted on steel posts and concreted in place for longer durability. 

The cost of the five new entrance signs is quoted around $20,000 plus HST as well as an additional $5,000 for a contractor to install. 

The replacement and installation costs of the entrance signs were included in the 2024 approved budget. 

Coun. Lindsay Wegener raised concerns to Moss regarding the longevity of the entrance signs in connection to the cheaper costs. 

“I don't mind going a little cheaper, but I do mind if it's only going to give us five years, so are they decent quality?” asked Wegener. 

Moss noted that while the new entrance signs “are a cheaper option then some of the entrance signs in other municipalities, which can be $100,000 or more”, the lifespan of the signs recommended for the Town of Shelburne ranges from 20 to 30 years. 

“These should be around for a good amount of time,” said Moss. 

The new entrance signs are expected to be put in place sometime between spring and summer of this year.