From trending to bending.
Readers have asked us what has happened to the “e” signs in Edson as they have gone from the streets. Another reader sent us some pictures showing exactly where they have gone, the dump, to be recycled. To be fair Edson Town Council had in a meeting this year declared that it had received complaints about the rusting signs
According to Town of Edson Communications Coordinator Steve Bethge, “The “e” signs were removed over the past year as they had become rusted and not suitable for the Town’s needs any longer.” “Admittedly,” said Bethge, “this was not a popular feature to begin with, so investing more money into them wasn’t a good option.”
Bethge also said that, “The signs served their purpose for six plus years but after many years of negative feedback, and a decline in aesthetics due to wear and rust, a decision was made to go another way. Originally it was a part of the Town’s overall beautification program and there are now plans in development for future highway beautification that will better suit our needs and give a much better first impression of our community. This includes changes to the existing entrance signs and a more suitable replacement to the “e” signs. Some of that may happen later this summer or early next spring depending on estimates and if it falls within our current budget.”
Some people liked the signs while others obviously didn’t. Bethge did go to some length to point out that signs would now be recycled. And, as far as he knew the signs were part of a larger beatification project that cost around $160,000.
We can all be wise with hindsight and right now spending that amount of cash on esthetics with probably little tangible benefits does not seem to be such a smart use of money. And, maybe, just maybe rather than recycle the signs off for scrap value a better use could have been made of them. At the museum perhaps or maybe auctioned off for charity. It may not be too late to rescue some of them.
As for council spending more money on beatification when some folks are facing tough choices between rent, mortgages, groceries and utilities maybe that might merit a rethink and find another way.