Headlight Herald By Seth Schmidt February 15, 2017
Tracy, MN-The City of Tracy and the Tracy Lions Club are joining forces in hopes of erecting a digital, community billboard along Hwy 14.
Lions Club members have been raising money for the electronic message board since 2016. Monday night, city council members agreed to a Lions request to operate and take ownership of the future device, and also apply for a federal grant to help pay for the billboard.
The high-resolution, multi-colored board would be located near the intersection of Morgan and Hwy. 14. Rotating community service announcements would be featured on the billboard.
Estimated cost of the sign is $40,000, of which the Lions have already raised $7,000.
City Administrator Madonna Peterson told council members Monday that Lion members Wayne Brock and Chris Kamrud had approached her about the possibility of city participation. The Lions, she said, feel that the sign would qualify for a U. S. Dept. of Agriculture grant. However, the application must be made by a government entity, which would assume ownership of the device.
Additionally, the Lions asked if they city would provide financial support to the project.
According to a Lions’ letter to the City Council, the Lions are also “asking several businesses and organizations” for monetary contributions, which could “be possibly tied to some advertising for them.” The Lions’ letter stated that policies needed to be drafted regarding what messages could or could not be put on the digital billboard.