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New sign at Beacon Avenue to say ‘Welcome to Sidney’

Sidney plans to put up a new sign, welcoming travellers to town.

Sidney plans to put up a new sign, welcoming travellers to town.

The town plans to retain a two-year lease with the Airport Travelodge on a small piece of property at the corner of Beacon Avenue and Highway 17. The lease costs the municipality $200 per year. The site has been vacant since 2009, when a fish boat called Wanda was removed. The boat had been there since 2002.  A staff report states the town hopes to keep the site over the long-term to use for a significant entrance feature. However, with only $10,000 budgeted for the site this year, all the town can pay for is landscaping upgrades and a modest welcome sign. In effect, it would be used as a placeholder should the town wish to invest in something larger at a later date.

“I’m not sure if this is something that we should be doing,” said Councillor Steve Price, who said he was worried about potential lease rate increases on land used only for a sign.

Price added the town has plenty of boulevard space and if the rate jumps in two or three years, “it would be time to take the sign down.”

Council did, however, unanimously approve the plan.