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It's back to square one for Kincardine after council scrapped the
new municipal signage program last night (Aug. 5) because of a fight
over whether to maintain the old Bruce Township signs in Ward 3.
Council was set to approve a motion to adopt the signage program,
complete with new gateway signs for the former Town of Kincardine
and Village of Tiverton, along with directional signs, way finding
signs, etc. However, that motion also included the removal of
existing signage, such as the historical signs in Bruce Township,
which would be donated to the respective historical societies.
At the request of councillor Randy Roppel, chairman of the tourism
committee (CHAT), council allowed a presentation from the Bruce
Township Historical Society, making one final plea for the
municipality to leave the signs up and maintain them.
Historical society president Jean Schwandt quoted documents that stated
the council back in 2001 agreed the signs should remain where they
are and the municipality would maintain them. That was also the
stance of the Bruce Township Community Centre board on Aug. 4, 2009,
she said, noting the board's support of the historical society in
having the three Bruce Township signs remain at their current
locations and the municipality maintain them.
"The Town of Kincardine will still have signs," said
Schwandt. "The
Village of Tiverton will have signs. We hope the Township of Bruce
can maintain its signs."
"As the chairperson of the CHAT committee, I'm in a corner here,"
said Roppel. "There's no reason why these three signs cannot be
retained. They represent Bruce Township."
Despite the fact that his committee recommended removal of the
signs, Roppel said he disagrees and the signs should remain. "I
think we should maintain the signs until such time as the historical
society says we no longer require them."
Councillor Ron Hewitt agreed with keeping the township signs, but he
would like to see the old "Historic Kincardine" signs removed. "I
never liked them," he said.
Deputy mayor Laura Haight questioned what exactly the CHAT committee
wants for the municipal signage program then. "We are supposed to
have consistent signs throughout the municipality," she said. "Are
the three Bruce Township signs going to be updated like the rest?"
"We had lots of discussion about the new signage program," said
Roppel, "but nothing about the old signs except that they be
removed. If the rest of the (CHAT) committee wants them removed, so
be it."
"Yes we had lots of discussion about this at CHAT," said councillor
Kenneth Craig. "People are confused when they come to the
Municipality of Kincardine because the signs are at North Bruce or
way out on Highway 9. They wonder: 'Where am I?'" He said the
signage program addresses destinations, such as the Town of
Kincardine and Village of Tiverton, which is why those two places
are getting gateway signs. "The intent is to follow through with
signs for Glammis, Bervie, Armow, and get rid of those 'Ontario's
Natural Retreat' signs. There's confusion for people if a sign says
'Welcome to whatever' and then there's no place there. (next column)
06/08/2009 07:48 PM
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"I appreciate the historical signifcance of the signs for Bruce
Township, Kincardine Township and Kincardine, but I don't think signs in
Bruce Township serve the purpose they once did when Underwood was the
capital of Bruce Township. They don't add any destination quality to the
signage program for the municipality so they should be removed and given
to the historical society."
"There's no guarantee to provide signage beyond what's agreed upon in
this guarantee here," said Roppel. "It's a lot of money, there will be a
change in government, there's no guarantee. We should maintain those
Bruce Township signs."
"In 1998, with amalgamation, governments of the individual areas ceased
to exist, but not the areas or the people," said mayor Larry Kraemer. "Kincardine,
Kincardine Township and Bruce Township amalgamated to form the
Municipality of Kincardine which is part of Bruce County. I have no
problem allowing Bruce Township's three signs. I don't believe people
navigate by those signs anyway."
Roppel suggested a new motion which would stipulate the Bruce Township
signs remain and that the municipality maintains them.
Chief administrative officer John deRosenroll said there are so many
elements to the signage program that it should simply go back to the
CHAT committee and a new recommendation be brought forward.
In a vote of council, the signage program was defeated.
"So, we're sending the whole thing back?" asked Craig, in utter
disbelief. "Did we just defeat the whole program? We spent $70,000 on
consultants to get this program in place and we just defeated that?"
"We can bring back another motion," said Roppel.
Later, in committee-of-the-whole, Haight said she wished council had
simply referred the issue rather than call for a vote.
"The way it was presented here was not acceptable to council," said
Roppel, "so it was defeated. If council so directs, we can take it back
to the CHAT committee."
Kraemer said he will bring a notice of motion, regarding the signage
program, to the Aug. 12 meeting.
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