Welcome signs
May 7th, 2009 by 
Alica
What do you think about the city’s plan to put Welcome to Brandon signs at the entrances to town? The city first wants to put one on West Holly Boulevard. It hasn’t been approved by the city council yet. One of the things the council has to decide is whether to add an electronic message board, which would cost an extra $10,000 or so. Do you think the message board is worth the extra cost? I suspect it would have messages about upcoming events in Brandon. I suppose a city employee would have to program them in. I wonder how often the messages would be updated. It would be embarrassing if old stuff appeared. The messages could be a good reminder to people and might increase attendance at community events.
The long-term plan is to put three other Welcome to Brandon signs at other Brandon entrances. There has been discussion about selling advertising on those signs. What do you think of that idea? There has been much debate in other cities about selling commercial advertising on public-owned structures. Some folks don’t care much for that. If the city allows advertising on a road sign, then how about selling space on the front of City Hall, or on the carts on the golf course? Where would it end? On the other hand, there is advertising on the fences at the ball park, and those are city-owned structures.
What are your thoughts?
Posted in Uncategorized, City business | 
May 8th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
One of their dumber ideas! There has got to be about 100 better ways to spend our money!
May 8th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
WHAT THE FRENCH ..TOAST!! I agree with #1 there is soo many other and better ways to spend the money.OR!! SAVE IT for something usefull..like maybe cleaning the friggin city street more than once or twice a year.. really getting tired of the beach infront of my driveway everytime it rains
May 9th, 2009 at 7:59 am
First they’d have to clean the streets.
May 9th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I beleive it is a great idea to have welcome signs. It sends a nice message to residents and visitors that we have pride in our comuunity. Take Orange City for example. Just driving through that community you get a feeling of what a beautiful, classy, clean, and friendly town it is.
Thanks to those who are finacially helping to support this endeavor.
The sign should be made timeless and classy. PLEASE do not use the Brandon logo with the “o” as a sunshine. While that is happy logo, it is definately 1990″s looking.
I think the pillars should be constructed of rock native to our area (quartz). Also, the middle area should made of non-maintence type materials for the “Welcome to Brandon” part (like the logo on the high school). Possibly, even a lazered metal “Welcome to Brandon” middle area.
Nothinbg looks worse than wood that needs painting.
Finally, while the scrolling board is a nice thought, that is an expensive item really not needed. Exactly what message really needs to be scrolling? I would rather the $$$$ be stuck into making a better looking, non-maintenance, classy sign.
A couple of examples:
sign.http://www.milebymile.com/hwy_item_images/photo_US_SD_14A_22707_4455.jpg
www.sallisawok.org/City%20Photos/Updated%20Si
http://www.fairfaxautomile.com/images/fairfax-welcome-sign.jpg
TONS of sign ideas online, just google city welcome signs under images.
May 9th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
I think the welcome signs are a good idea, but not the electronic scrolling signs. I don’t think trying to read a sign that is scrolling is a good idea when you are driving down the road. You usually can’t read the whole message in the time you drive by, and if you can, you probably aren’t paying too much attention to the road.
#4 has some great ideas!
May 10th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Check these out:
Venice, Florida
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13453262@N03/3232733568/
Allentown, Georgia
www.flickr.com/photos/rayrod1/2188034441/
Here’s one from Milltown (not sure which state)that might confuse people. Is the city doing the welcoming, or the business?
http://c.myspace.com/Groups/00002/02/46/2356420_l.jpg
Here’s another one that might confuse people.
http://c.myspace.com/Groups/00009/04/19/9399140_l.jpg
May 10th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I think a nice welcome sign would be good. A bad sign would be waste of money. It doesn’t need to say anything more than ‘Welcome to Brandon’ - the beauty could be in the sign and landscaping around it. I like the wrought iron look - classy and timeless. I see no need for a scrolling sign(s).
May 11th, 2009 at 7:51 am
I like the idea of a new sign. Everyone knows the importance of a first impression. I have road tripped throughout the United States a few time in my life and a the city’s sign definitely makes a difference on the initial appeal to the city. If the signage is nice and inviting then you feel as if their citizens care about the city and you get an overall good impression before you even encounter anyone or any business. For those cities that don’t have good signage or old or dated signage you either have a feeling of uneasiness or question. A city sign is a form of advertising. We would be advertising our city to ourselves and to visitor to our city. If we have a good sign it show prosperity for us and an overall inviting feeling to visitor who will hopefully stop and visit or businesses.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Just driving into Brandon and was reminded of the HUGE boulder at the corner of 6 Mile and Rice. Could that be used for a sign? Maybe even a couple of signs…
Carve/etch (not sure on procedure) “Welcome to Brandon” on the rock - like at the Tallgrass entrance. Sit it at an entrance - sign is done!
May 11th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I think incorporating business names and logos on these signs and getting rid of the wooden “Welcome to Brandon” signs would be a great idea!
May 11th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I agree No. 10
May 12th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I think you could do this by incorporating these business logos into a electronic sign versus the proposed scrolling board. Those logos would look real good in color and be more eye catching versus the wooden board now in place. You could use the advertising money to help cover the costs of the sign.
May 13th, 2009 at 8:59 am
To #12:
The wooden board you mention is owned by the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. At least, I think you are referring to the one where a different business is advertised on each board.
This new welcome sign that is being proposed would be owned by the city. The long-term plan is to have four signs, one to each entrance to the city.
There is talk about having advertising on the city-owned sign(s), but, if I understand the plan correctly, the city wouldn’t get the money for the advertising. The Chamber would.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I think a sign without advertisers would be more attractive. If there is an advertisers board, let it be the ones currently out there. Keep the two items separate.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Two separate sets of signs? That doesn’t make sense. Plus, the current wooden signs are a little tacky. No. 10 is right.
May 13th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I agree with #15 that the current wooden signs are tacky. I also agree with #14 though to keep advertisers off the “Welcome to Brandon” sign. It is ALL of Brandon welcoming people not just the businesses. I also think the sign should be kept simple and just greet people.
I have seen towns that have a “welcome” sign and then an advertiser board off to the side. Maybe that is what #14 is thinking.
May 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
The advertising on the signs helps bring in money to keep the City and/or Chamber running; to bring in tax dollars which keep things like the Fire Dept. funded! Yes, that’s where the money goes!
It doesn’t matter who “owns” them or who gets the money, either the city or the chamber put the money into things that benefit all of us.
Digital signs would promote important city events that out-of-towners would see, hopefully stay for and spend their money on in Brandon! The City in any capacity wins.
As for how it looks, there are already digital signs all over town, if the city wants to put up a few too, so be it. It drags our town into this century! I, for one, don’t want to look like the “town where time stood still.”
As for our logo, if you have ideas, please, by all means, go to meetings and be a voice!
Make a difference! Look at other city, and state visitor guides on line, which are available, and compare.
The way the signs are now, they are unsightly, and must cost some to keep in good shape. The new ones would be lit and make a much better impression day or night. The ease of changing them, even the logo sometime, would pay for itself! Think of the town as a whole-get out of your boxes!
May 13th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Any business can put up a sign at any time to promote their business. Why must it be in conjunction with a “Welcome to Brandon” sign? If a business wants to advertise on a digital sign, let them buy one and advertise on it. If they want to advertise on a billboard, rent one and advertise.
The current Chamber signs are OK looking. They have been painted in the last couple of years. Before that though, they were an eyesore as no one maintained them.
I am not personally against digital signage - just the $12,000 it will cost (tax $$$). I think tax monies can be spent more wisely. Just think what the Fire Dept. could do with an extra $12,000 (one example only).
May 14th, 2009 at 9:02 am
I just feel that if the city is trying to advance itself into current times it needs to have a strong first impression. Those wooden signs just don’t do it anymore. Yes they look 100% better since being painted but still are dated. I digital message board or billboard would automatically create a diffent impression on the city a more progressive feel to the city that may be more inviting to new businesses or other ventures. I think it a small price to pay for a more progressive image.
May 14th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Would a digital sign create a more “progressive image” than just a really nice, timeless, classy “Welcome to Brandon” sign? I personally don’t think so. Many of the digital signs I see have bulbs burnt out, old messages scrolling, and are hard to read.
A well chosen welcome sign would be non-maintenance and timeless. My hometown sign was put up in 1980 and is still a beautiful sign at the entrance to my former stomping grounds.
We also must remember that the city is not putting up one sign - they are putting up 4 signs. Initial cost plus maintenace I feel are just a waste of tax $$$.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Electronic sign = cheesy. Let’s keep those for the sporting events and announcement boards. Let’s also keep people’s eyes on the road not on a scrolling sign. Bad idea.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:20 am
A message sign is a fabulous idea. Getting information to people in Brandon is very hard.
The message sign would be a good way to inform people about elections, meetings, community events, etc.
People don’t take the time to look through websites, mailings or ads to find information.
May 14th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I think it is stupid to get one I think that they can spend the money in a better way. i mean come on is it needed? i think not.The town of Brandon will be fine without it. Spend the money on the parks or something that will benifit the people of Brandon. The one thing i do not get is they are going to run ads on them for things that are going on in Brandon correct? and these are welcome to Brandon signs correct? Well if so the People from out of town are already entering the town right? that means they have a reason to be in Brandon like going to that function that needed the ad so actually they already knew about it before they came to town. But I do see everyones point I bet their lots of people that will be driving around and they by chance are entering Brandon see the sign and say holy crap Brandon is having a parade lets go to I did not know they were having that today! Good thing for that 12,000 sign!
May 18th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Everybody commenting on this blog is worried about first impressions as people enter Brandon. Has anybody drove down Holly Boulevard lately and noticed the grass on the boulevard? I can remember the pasture in my Grandfather’s fields looking better in the spring. Maybe the city should just take care of what we have and the people should insist on that. Seems like a logical idea in my opinion, before we start spending more money???? Just a thought.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Glad to hear the city will be putting up two welcome signs and nixed the electronic sign. Wiser use of $$$. Any clues on design?
I do have one other suggestion regarding the landscaping. Consider putting rocks down instead of wood chips. Rocks/stones are zero maintenance while wood chips need to be replaced (? yearly). While I do like the new landscaped areas on Holly, they already look like they need maintenance and new wood chips. Just my two cents for the day.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:30 am
PLEASE reconsider the design….The one with being considered is soooo outdated! Nice logo but it is from the 1990’s. It definately does not portray “progress” and a city on the move. It says Brandon is stuck in the past.
Choose something that is timeless please! Otherwise it will be a waste of $$$$
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
Screw the signs! I would suggest that all city councilmen, the mayor and big Dennis go down to the ball diamonds on any given night and try to find a place to park. How about some asphalt and white paint in parking lot, that would be money better spent than wasting it on signs.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Or how about more than one baseball field for ages 13 and up? Talk about need.