Sandusky hopes to have downtown's name in lights

Wednesday, 09 August 2006

Electronic billboard would boost other city attractions to Cedar Point tourists.

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Sandusky is looking to purchase one of the newest innovations in electronic message centers so tourists know the city is more than just Cedar Point.

The two-sided 8-by-15-foot digital billboard -- similar to a huge television screen -- would be mounted on the fire station on Fifth Street and Cedar Point Road. It would play videos, display messages and post pictures -- in full color.

"We are looking to market and educate the Cedar Point traffic on what is available in Sandusky," said Assistant City Manager Gary Packan.

The billboard would be controlled by a computer in the fire station and could be changed as often as the city wants.

Among attractions Packan would advertise are Washington Park, the waterfront, festivals at Sandusky Bay Pavilion and the annual biker rally.

During the off-season, the city could use the billboard to communicate with residents about boil alerts and leaf pickup.

Although the city would have to accept bids for the purchase, which could be as much as $210,000 for a high resolution billboard, the city has been talking with Sandusky-based Brady Sign to get ideas on what is available. Brady distributes the Watchfire unit from Time-O-Matic, Danville, Ill.

A smaller version of what the city would like to buy will be demonstrated at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the fire station on Fifth Street and Cedar Point Road. v "The unit we are talking about with the city is 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide and looks like a big television screen, said Teryl Fox, vice president of Brady Sign.

It's really high-tech and there's nothing around here like it, except if you are going into Cleveland, he said.

"You can take a digital photograph and put it up right on the screen," Fox said. "It plays pre-recorded clips and slide shows."

While message centers around town are red "light emitting devices," these are the next generation, he said. Before red LEDs, there were white.

"If you can envision your ceiling, which is 8 feet high from the floor to ceiling, that's the height and double that for the width," Fox said, describing the size of the billboard.

Commissioner Craig Stahl supports the purchase as long as its "revenue neutral." He would like to see the city sell advertisement space on the billboard to pay for the purchase. The low-resolution billboard would cost $140,000-$150,000.

Fox said the billboard would last at least 10 years, but it depends on how well it is maintained. In the industry, there have been signs in place for 30-35 years, he said.

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com

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