Village of Hampshire Beautification Committee met Dec. 16.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Attendees: Lynn, Bill, Eileen, Jeanie Call to Order at 5:11pm
No public comments
Bill’s report to committee:
Beautification Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
Absent: Michelle
Board passionate about getting wayfinding signs done this coming year. Our committee is charged with recommending a design, possible placement and costs.
Bill looked at Huntley’s signs and liked them- committee agreed.
Mike Armato did our current wayfinding signs on State Street that are for businesses. Bill suggested we reach out to him to see if he will work with us on the new ones.
Most comments about our wayfinding signs is that they are nice but that the print is too small.
Some of the signs and streetlights are now black and fluted in the newer subdivisions and consensus was to keep going in that direction.
Action items:
Bill will reach out to Mike Armato to see what options are for possibly refurbishing current signs and get ideas about costs.
Eileen will snap a few pics of St. Charles’s signs and will email Charlie Nordman at Village of Huntley to see where they did their signs and what budget might be.
Eileen asked about which budget this would be coming from and if it was approved. She recalled the work we did last year to have some simple parking signs installed and the project did not move forward. Bill said he would talk to Ryan to see what the board has agreed to do.
Bill said he would also revisit process for how the last set of wayfinding signs was procured last signs to see if there were any issues that we should be aware of. The committee agreed that more eyes are needed on the signs prior to approval to ensure they are visible and easy to read as well as attractive and in keeping with the historic look we are encouraging through the Village’s beautification efforts.
Scope: The signs would provide direction for parking, municipal services, library, schools, direction to central business district on Rt 72 and Allen and State.
Our committee agreed that we should look into and recommend a monument sign for Route 20 at Allen Road- southeast corner to lead the way to Hampshire.
Plan to meet in January to review plans and workshop the ideas. Bill will email the committee when the date if set.
Information on happenings in town:
Laundromat was recently purchased by the Zophi’s –to facilitate their dog rescue non-profit. It will be a place for running the Basset Rescue-no kennels will be onsite. Can be rented like a multipurpose room for other organizations to use. Will use the side yard for a gathering area. Application forthcoming for façade grant.
Speckled Fawn- Tenant is holding on direction for remodeling. Terri Bradley and Bill have been in discussion. Terri wants this to be a destination shop where buyers come in to find handmade leather goods.
Les Petersen project complete. Looks great.
Rose Garden: Sam and Tony want to do some improvements on exterior. Owners not convinced. Further discussions needed. Business is booming on Sundays and they still get a fair lunch crowd during the week.
Car dealer may be relocating. Fenzel’s not big enough for what the company wants to see in a car lot rather than cars all over the town.
Palazzolo’s- no action at this time.
BDC meeting was held a few weeks ago for business owners and stakeholders. Purpose was to share what is going on and what they are trying to do. Topics covered: Main Street Program- Showed the web video –Talked about niche businesses- Need for focal point -possibly locating clock by Fenzel’s and plans to do some streetscape work. Grant façade program was discussed. Then the business owners had a chance to comment and request info. Bill said it was a good meeting- lots of interest among attendees.
The need for a Hampshire-local newspaper was discussed.
Motion to Adjourn made by Eileen. Lynn 2nd. All in favor. Approved at 6:13pm
https://www.hampshireil.org/getattachment/eb79b996-b6aa-4438-9327-5c329f9802c9/12-16-19.aspx
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