The Clark County Combined Health District wants to build a digital sign along Home Road to promote public health.
“We’re going to be able to put more messages out there, more frequent changes, and we’re going provide a variety of messages,” said Health District Commissioner Charles Patterson. “We think it’s one way to continue marketing the work the health department is doing to inform people about the things that are going on in the community … and remind people about the healthy choices they can make.”
The size of the sign has not been determined, but Patterson estimated it could cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
Clark County commissioners recently approved a 20-foot by 20-foot easement for the property that the current sign sits on in the front of the health district at 529 E. Home Road.
Patterson said the current sign was in place since before he began working for the health district 15 years ago.
Before health officials can replace the current sign with a digital one, Patterson said officials must get approval from the city zoning and appeals boards, and nearby residents will have to be notified about the proposed change.
If approved, Patterson said he hopes the sign could be up by fall.
The project comes just as the Springfield City Schools are planning to put digital signs at all schools in the district.
Patterson said the sign will save the health district time and money.
“We’re going to be able to pay for the electricity in the time that it takes for our folks to put the letters together in here and order them and get them out there. The electricity will be far cheaper than what we’re spending now in man hours,” Patterson said.
The Springfield City School District is also seeking to place a digital sign along East Home Road at the high school.
The district and local architect Craig Dillon recently asked for a variance for 10 digital signs at school locations throughout the city. The signs will replace those at current sites, Thompson said.
“We’ve had a lot of phone calls, but no complaints,” Thompson said.
The new digital signs will display messages with school news similar to the sign at Springfield High School, Thompson said.
“They’ll be able to give information to parents much more easily,” Thompson said.
The project came from the “No New Millage Bond Issue” with the request through the capital plan by some principals, Treasurer Dale Miller said.
Wilson Electronic of Dayton was award the contract for the school district’s project. The purchase order is for 16 signs at $9,750 for a total of $156,000 plus electrical installation, Miller said.
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