Published: October 08, 2008 12:04 pm      

Floyd County Commissioners on board with electronic sign at Highlander Point, ask Plan Commission to reconsider

The oldest shopping center in Floyd County may soon have a state-of-the-art sign.

The Floyd County Commissioners approved by unanimous vote Tuesday to send a sign ordinance back to the Plan Commission with an amendment. Instead of requiring electronic signs to be 50 square feet or less, the commissioners recommended adding 10 feet, with message-changing allowed every 10 seconds.

The commissioners decided to make the change after attorney John Kraft, representing Meka, which owns Highlander Point, asked to place a 60-square-feet electronic sign at the shopping center along U.S. 150.

Electronic signs were once banned from the county, according to the comprehensive plan. But after the issue was brought up last year, the commissioners, plan commission, and county Planner Don Lopp, decided to study the ordinance.

The plan commission recently rejected the request by a 5-4 vote. If the plan commission approves the changes, they will send it back to the commissioners for final approval.

Bob Elsby, with Meka, said the center’s future may depend on the electronic sign. He said 30,000 cars pass Highlander Point each day and instead of those cars driving to Veterans Parkway in Clarksville or Louisville to shop, he would like for them to stop at his shopping center.

“The vacancy rate is as high as it’s been in 28 years,” Elsby said of Highlander Point. “The economy is tight and it doesn’t sound like the next 18 months are going to be any better.”

Elsby would not say how many storefronts are vacant. However, the Ranch House recently left and another business is looking to get out of its lease, he said. Elsby said some businesses, such as Walgreens, will not build a store if they are not able to place an electronic sign in front of it.

County Commissioner Mark Seabrook made the recommendation to send the ordinance back to the plan commission with the changes. He said he sees Highlander Point as a “hub or wheel” in Floyd County.

Commissioner Chuck Freiberger agreed.

“I generally support the plan commission on everything that comes through. They work very hard,” he said. “Then again, I know the economics involved here.”

“I think we have to balance the economic side of it. But I know the hard work Don has put into this,” Commissioner Steve Bush said. “I think we should send it back to the plan commission and let them look at it again.”

Elsby said it has been documented that electronic signs can increase sales 30 percent.



In other business Tuesday

• There are four drop-off locations for county residents to deposit small limbs from the Sept. 14 wind storm. Those locations include the Floyd County Road Department along Old Georgetown Road and Letty Walter, Galena and Greenville parks.

• The commissioners unanimously recommended placing Floyd County Circuit Court Judge Terrence Cody on the Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services board of trustees.

• The commissioners accepted a bid of $34,000 from Insulated Roofing to repair leaks at the M.L. Reisz Building along Spring Street.