Kent city officials revealed renderings of what the new message boards along West Willis Street will look like and clarified that federal CARES Act funds will not be used to pay for the project.

Chad Bieren, interim Public Works director, told the City Council at its Oct. 27 Committee of the Whole virtual meeting that city staff initially believed the federal funds for COVID-19 relief could be used to pay $145,000 for the two signs, but then determined that wasn’t the case. The city will use money from the general fund to pay for the message boards.

“It’s a pretty sizable sign about 10 feet tall,” Bieren said as he showed renderings of the signs to the council. “It’s good size so you can see it rather easily.”

The messages will include what’s happening in the city from meetings to events. The city’s communications staff will oversee the boards and will be able to put up messages via cellphone.

“It’s something we haven’t had in the city,” Bieren said.

The new message boards are tied in with the new roundabout project nearing completion at the intersection of Fourth Avenue South and Willis Street. A message board for westbound traffic along Willis Street will go up along the north side of Willis in line with Fifth Avenue South. The south side message board for eastbound traffic will be between Sixth Avenue South and Fifth Avenue South along Willis Street.

“They look low to the ground,” Councilmember Bill Boyce said to Bieren. “Is that just how it looks or is it high enough if I am driving or look downward?”

Bieren replied that at 10 feet high drivers should be able to see it to read it.

“We will mock up the sign to make sure it fits and looks right,” Bieren said.

Boyce said he supports the project.

“I think it’s a great thing for people to see what’s going on in the city,” Boyce said.

Bieren said in an email to the Kent Reporter that the signs should be up later this year.

“We are working to have the signs up by the end of the year; although, due to COVID-19 we may run into issues with materials procurement,” Bieren said.

The boards will show red text on a black background. There will not be video capability. That will make the boards more similar to the Kent Commons message board along West James Street than the one outside of accesso ShoWare Center, although with a much more modern design than Kent Commons.

“This looks really nice,” Councilmember Zandria Michaud said as Bieren showed the renderings.

Houston, Texas-based Polaris LED, which opened in 2012, is the manufacturer of the signs.

“I like the ability to put things on there very quickly so if we need to alert the public to something we do it with little effort,” Council President Toni Troutner said. “It will be very useful to the city to have.”

The message boards are part of the city’s Gateway to Downtown plan for the roundabout. City leaders plan to ask the state Legislature next year for $1 million to help fund a much-larger project to dress up the entryway. Elements of the gateway include expanded pedestrian and bicycle mixing zones at the four corners of the roundabout, enhanced landscapes at the four corners and center island, pedestrian lighting to improve safety and an artistic sculpture.

A $3 million state Department of Transportation grant helped fund construction of the new $4.75 million roundabout, which is on State Route 516, aka Willis Street. The rest of the roundabout cost will be paid for by city B&O, utility and drainage tax funds, according to city documents.

A photo simulation traveling westbound on Willis Street near the new roundabout of the new message boards the city of Kent will install. COURTESY IMAGE, City of Kent

A look at the dimensions of the new message boards the city of Kent will install along Willis Street. COURTESY IMAGE, City of Kent