Monument sign to move forward
The Sterling City Council’s short meeting on Tuesday did include something big. You could even call it monumental.
The council voted 7-0 to move for ward on an electric monument sign that will welcome visitors entering Sterling from the I-76/ Highway 6 corridor after a request from the Citizens Advisor y Board.
Alex Wright represented the board at the meeting and presented a concept drawing created by TJ D-signs of Sterling that features two stone-covered pillars supporting a large Sterling sign. The project would include landscaping around the sign, as well as incorporate two bronze sculptures that were previously purchased — an eagle that is on display at the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, and an antelope that is being housed at the Overland Trail Museum.
The council’s vote directs the city to put out a request for proposals for construction design drawings that will allow them to get an idea of the cost of the project. At City Manager Don Saling’s request, it will require bids to include the stamp of approval from an engineer to ensure the design is structurally sound.
Wright said that the sign will be placed near the Logan County Visitors Center, replacing the electronic billboard sign that is located there now.
During his report to the council, Saling noted that the 24-inch water main replacement project on E.
Chestnut is complete and the new line is now in operation. The paving has not yet been done.
The city’s 2020 street resurfacing project is also complete, except for work on Chestnut between Front and Third Streets. The Colorado Department of Transportation has not finished curb and gutter work where the former one-way streets that ran along the bottom of the overpass connected to Third Street, so that portion of the project will be included in next year’s project.
Saling also noted that
the city has spend about a tenth of its portion of coronavirus relief funds directed from the state to Logan County. The $54,369 was used largely on personal protective equipment for city employees and facilities, and also for purchasing laptops for council chambers and for employee telework. Saling said he feels the city has enough PPE to weather the current wave of COVID-19 cases. Per the agreement with the county and other Logan County communities, the remainder of Sterling’s $543,832 will revert to the county as of Saturday.
Before adjourning, the council discussed moving their regular meetings to an earlier time. Council member Brenda Desormeaux suggested that meeting at 5:30 p.m. would be better for the city staff who have to attend the meetings, which are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. After consulting with the council’s rules and procedures, Saling and City Attorney Curt Penny advised that they would place the item on the agenda for the next meeting, on Nov. 10. That meeting will be held at 6 p.m.