City looking to put signs around Madison

The City of Madison is looking into putting signs around the city to direct tourists and residents to places of interest.

The signs, deemed “way-finding,” would lead to places such as the historic district, Dublin and Palmer parks, greenways, the library, the YMCA, city hall, and the police and fire departments.

Nansi Clark, the mayor’s executive assistant, said she has been working on this project since she first stepped into the mayor’s office on June 20.

Clark said Alabama House representative Mike Ball was allocating $9,000 back to the city.

“It’s the citizens’ money but it’s coming back to us,” Clark said.  “It’s always nice when we get some of that funding back.”

They are also deciding whether the city can handle the project in-house or if they will need to contract some of the work out.

“If our city departments can install them, then we don’t have to hire a contractor to do that,” Clark said.  “We can save the city some money.”

Clark said the signs may have to come in phases, and the on the top of the list is signs that would lead downtown and to the historic district.  These primary stage signs would be “temporary,” meaning they will not be consistent with what is hoped to be put all over the rest of the town.

Ultimately Clark hopes to have consistent signs throughout Madison that may even have the city logo or seal on them.

Clark and her team want to follow suit with the way signage was handled in Hartselle and Decatur.

Clark said the signs will benefit the citizens and provide for a better quality of life.

“The signs will help with traffic flow as well as awareness,” Clark said.