An electronic billboard won’t be spreading the word in downtown Lumby.
Village council voted Monday not to provide $10,000 to the Lumby Chamber of Commerce to purchase a digital message sign.
“Ten thousand isn’t in the budget for us and it required almost immediate action,” said Mayor Kevin Acton.
“A sign like that would have required variances so the timing was not good.”
There was also debate about the esthetics of a three-foot-by-four-foot, two-sided sign.
“There was a concern about having a blinking light in Lumby,” said Acton, adding that the sign could be considered in the future as part of the village’s strategic planning.
The total cost for a sign is $17,770, and the chamber had received a $5,000 grant from Destination B.C. It was proposed for the entrance to the Salmon Trail at the visitor information area.
The chamber was promoting the sign as a way of providing information to the public when the visitor centre is closed.
“We feel this 24-hour digital message sign will fill the communication gap within our community,” said Bill Maltman, chamber president, in a letter.
“The digital sign would be an irreplaceable tool to transfer information quickly and efficiently for emergency communications within the village to community members and visitors such as wildfire updates, road closures and gas leaks and flooding. In addition, it would provide important community event information and visitor servicing tools to help increase the length of time visitors explore the community.”
