What’s Your Sign?

 

The new ‘Welcome to Whidbey Island’ sign has landed.   

We’re not too impressed with the looks of the thing.  And it seems we’re not alone in that opinion.   

Sue Fause at the Seattle PI  thinks the sign looks like it could have been crafted from the old WSF Steel Electrics that were hauled off to Mexico for scrap. Her description was by far the kindest of any we’ve heard. 

In online comments  many expressed complaints that not only is the sign ugly, but a huge waste of money. Some complained that spending money on a new sign was irresponsible; especially now, when schools lack funding, law enforcement budgets are being cut, and people lack basic health care. One commenter wrote that in these hard times, the only sign needed on Whidbey Island is at the Deception Pass bridge reading ‘Do Not Jump.’

This new sign came about via ‘the Gateway Monument Project’ which was initiated back in 2006. The Gateway monuments also are scheduled to be built at Deception Pass and the Keystone ferry landing.  The project has a $98,000 federal grant administered by the state Department of Transportation. According to Island County Commissioner Helen Price-Johnson, the sign approval process included public hearings, a public comment period, a volunteer committee, and obtaining permits, and the contract process.  So add all the hours spent by the Island County Commissioners for the discussion and approval process to the final tally of costs.  

Photo: New sign at Keystone

Helen Price- Johnson said “Each sign was individually designed to reflect the scenic beauty of Whidbey Island,”   We don’t think the new signs reflect the beauty of this Island.  We haven’t found any information on who created this sign, but we doubt it was created by a local resident or anyone who visits much.  

We do want to give a huge thank you  for the efforts of a group called Save Our Sign. Without them, the old sign would have been moved and probably destroyed. The group organized in September when it was announced that the old sign was to be moved up the hill from the ferry dock to make way for the new gateway monument. Save Our Sign members argued that the fragile old sign wouldn’t survive a move and that its rotting parts could be easily repaired at the sign’s current location.  After collecting 1500 signatures, county commissioners allowed the old sign to stand. 

So now we have two welcome signs, What’s your sign? Which do you like and was the new sign worth the money?

Post by: ss