Washington Township Board Approves Nearly $20,000 for New Digital Sign

Washington Township Board Meeting | September 4, 2024

Article Summary: The Washington Township Board has approved the purchase of a new, high-resolution LED message board for its highway sign at a cost of $19,767.17 from All-Right Sign. The decision followed a review of two quotes, with the board opting for a sign with a lower pixel pitch for sharper image quality.

New LED Sign Key Points:

• The board unanimously approved the purchase of a 36″ x 72″ LED sign from All-Right Sign for $19,767.17.

• The chosen sign features a 10mm pixel pitch, which provides sharper images compared to the alternative 16mm option.

• The decision came after reviewing a competing quote from Fast Signs for $22,100, which did not include the mounting post.

• The project also involves rebuilding the sign’s brick base, which was necessary to accommodate the new, larger sign.

The Washington Township Board on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, unanimously approved the purchase of a new digital sign for the township, greenlighting a nearly $20,000 expenditure to enhance community communication.

The board voted to accept a $19,767.17 quote from All-Right Sign for a new 36-inch by 72-inch LED “Think Sign.” This decision followed a discussion about replacing the old road sign, which has already been demolished in preparation for the new structure.

Supervisor Mike Stanula presented two quotes for the new message board. A quote from Fast Signs proposed a sign with a 15mm pixel pitch for a total cost of $22,100, a price that did not include the mounting post. All-Right Sign provided two options: a sign with a 16mm pixel pitch for $19,101.94, and one with a higher-resolution 10mm pixel pitch for $19,767.17. Both All-Right Sign quotes included the mounting post and installation.

Stanula explained the technical difference, noting, “The lower the pixel pitch, the sharper the images on the sign.”

The project involves more than just the sign itself. Trustee Mark Herlitz questioned the size of the new LED board and the need for new brickwork. Stanula explained that the existing sign base was larger than the new LED sign, and the brickwork would be necessary to fill the gap and create a more visually appealing final structure. He also noted that an initial plan to install a special-order logo block in the brickwork was scrapped in favor of a simple address block to save “several hundred dollars.”

Following the discussion, Trustee Tracy Heldt made a motion, seconded by Trustee Teresa Peterson, to accept the higher-resolution 10mm pixel pitch option from All-Right Sign. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. The mason working on the sign’s base can now proceed with the rebuild once the sign’s specifications are shared.