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Albany County directs county engineer to make courthouse electronic sign mobile after city planning denies variance
Summary
After the city planning commission denied a variance for a permanent electronic message center (EMC) at the courthouse, Albany County commissioners voted to have the county engineer pursue a mobile trailer-based sign to use existing grant funds rather than return them.
Albany County commissioners directed the county engineer to have the planned courthouse electronic message center built on a mobile trailer that can be relocated, after the Laramie planning commission declined a variance for a permanent sign in the downtown historic district.
Jake, a county planning/project staff member who presented the item, told commissioners that city planners denied the variance largely because of sign size, visibility through trees and concerns about setting a precedent for electronic signs in the downtown historic district. "They were concerned it would set a precedent where other businesses would start putting EMC signs up in the downtown district," Jake said.
Jake outlined options: do nothing and return federal ARPA funds; appeal the planning commission decision to city council; find another permitted location (which likely would require another variance); or build the sign on a trailer so the county could expend grant funds now and find a permanent solution later. Jake said building the sign on a trailer would likely avoid contractor licensing conflicts with the city because the contractor would not need to pull a permanent-install license.
Commissioners and staff discussed trade-offs. Commissioner Dave asked whether the city had suggested alternate permitted locations; Jake said the city suggested possibilities such as the library or fairgrounds but declined to provide definitive guidance because a specific site and variance would be needed. Commissioner Terry asked whether unspent funds could be retained if only part of the grant were used; Jake explained that the ARPA portion had already been paid to the contractor and that county-designated funds had also been expended, and said he was unsure of the legal or grant ramifications if the project stalled.
Commissioner Pete moved and Commissioner Jerry seconded a motion directing the county engineer to request that the sign be placed on a mobile platform. The motion passed unanimously.
After the vote Jake said the trailer option would allow the county to use the majority of the funds now and to move the sign later to a more permanent site if a permitted location becomes available. Commissioners instructed staff to proceed with the mobile sign approach and to coordinate communications and permitting as needed.
