The future of three entrance signs now in use for the Town of Rimbey has yet to be decided.
At its Tuesday meeting, council discussed letters received from separate entities requesting ownership of the three signs.
A letter of request came from Cheryl Jones, administrator/curator for the Rimbey Historical Society, Pas Ka Poo Historical Park, Smithson International Truck Museum and Rimbey Visitor Centre.
“The Rimbey Historical Society would like to make a formal request to be the recipients of all three of the old signs that will be taken down,” she said. “We see the historical significance of these welcome signs and wish to preserve them.”
Jones noted that council had previously given the Historical Society permission to continue using the antique truck and the slogan ‘Rimbey, The Friendly International Town’ at the museum.
Another letter requesting ownership of the signs came from Lynda Kenney.
In her letter Kenney, whose father-in-law was Ken Smithson, asked to take responsibility for distributing the signs. She stated she would like one of the signs to be placed at the sawmill yard at the Sam Kenney Family Campground, which Ken spent many tireless hours helping to build.
The Kenney family continues to hold sawmill demonstrations there in honor of both Ken and Sam, she said.
Kenney would like to see the two remaining signs be given to the Smithson and the Kenney families to serve as precious heirlooms which would be passed down and treasured for future generations.
After the meeting, Mayor Rick Pankiw said council agreed that the Kenney family and representatives from the Rimbey Historical Society get together to come up with a compromise regarding the signs.
Coun. Lana Curle said she was confident both parties would come up with a compromise.
“I’m sure it can be worked out and they can meet somewhere in the middle,” she said.
Curle noted that Cheryl Jones’s primary concern was that the signs be thrown out.
Pankiw said the new signs are ordered, but he has no idea when they will be received.
Late last year council agreed to purchase four Behren signs for the town’s four major entrances including a large double-sided LED backlit sign for the entrance from Hwy. 20. During budget deliberations, council had earmarked $30,000 to go towards signs and the necessary electrical upgrades needed for the purchase.
The bid to purchase the signs came in at under $23,000.
The electrical upgrades cost around $573.00.