A rendering of how the proposed digital community billboard will look for motorists headed south on Second Avenue W. (Google maps/ PA city council agenda)

By Alison Sandstrom

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Digital billboard remains on track

Aug 26, 2019 | 6:08 PM

Despite a petition calling it a motoring distraction and a poor use of dollars, city council’s decision to erect a digital billboard will not change.

Many on council were not swayed by the 160 signatures and said they’ve only heard positive feedback about the project which will go near the intersection of 15th St. W. and Second Ave. W.

“I think the communication between citizens of Prince Albert in this day and age is important and what the sign does is it allows us to communicate better,” Coun. Blake Edwards told council during Monday’s meeting.

He pointed out that the sign would allow the city to reach people who don’t regularly use the internet and could persuade some of the high volume of traffic which passes through P.A. to stop at a local event. The sign will be entirely financed by money from Husky Energy.

Aside from his safety concerns, the man behind the petition says he doesn’t like that the city will have to pay for the signs ongoing maintenance.

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“The power that it’s going to use, someone has to put all that writing on there, that now is going to be taxpayer money,” Andy Torchinski told paNOW after the meeting.

Mayor Greg Dionne pointed out though that taxpayers will also have to pay upkeep costs for the other projects financed by the so-called Husky ‘apology’ money – the Rotary Trail and Kinsmen Splash Park – and no one is complaining about that.

Despite city council saying the billboard is a done-deal, Torchinsky vowed to keep fighting.

“I’m not prepared to give up yet, I’m going to try to get more signatures,” he said.

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom