New signage approved for south entrance into city

To improve the appearance at the south entry to the city, new signage was approved to replace the aged welcome sign. The Monroe City Council selected a sign designed by Sign Pro of Newton, during the regular November meeting Monday.

At a previous meeting, the council discussed the condition of the sign currently located at the south entrance to the city on Highway 14. With the paint chipping and color fading on the sign, the council decided to move forward with a new option.

Three companies submitted design options with various wording and imagery on each sign. Sign Pro gave two selections both with wording stating “Welcome to Monroe; Home of the PCM Mustangs.” The first design had a clean background while the second had the Mustang logo with “Home of the PCM Mustangs” in reverse text.

“I like the Mustang in the back,” councilwoman Andrea Steenhoek said.

The consensus among the council and mayor Doug Duinick was for the second option with the Mustang logo.

The sign will have aluminum composite sign panels, vinyl lettering and border and the “Monroe” lettering will be in plastic formed dimensional letters. It will be six feet by 16 feet which is the same decision as the existing sign.

The final total for the sign is estimated at $5,286 with all upgrades presented selected.

Two additional designs were also submitted by ABC Sign and Display of Urbandale and Art Sign Works of Morrieta, Calif. The design from ABC had the crossroads logo with “Monroe at the crossroads” across the sign. It was estimated at $16,840.

From Art Sign Works, a $9,595 bid was given for a display with “Monroe” in large lettering and “Home of the PCM Mustangs” underneath with two running mustangs on either side.

The council also approved city clerk Kim Thomas to serve as a representative from Monroe for the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) transport advisory group. The advisory group will act as a liaison between local communities, business representatives, agency representatives and HIRTA to provide local and regional implore regarding transportation issues important to the region and include in the HIRTA strategic plan.

“The success of a transport advisory group is dependent upon having dedicated and engaged members able to commit to a minimum of two meeting per year,” HIRTA Business Development Manager Brooke Ramsey said in an email to the council.

Thomas was selected as a non-elected city official to represent the city.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com