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Residents, council explore replacing Mendon's welcome signs; local companies offer materials and help
Summary
A resident presentation prompted council members and local businesses to discuss replacement options for the town's "Welcome to Mendon" signs, including material choices, donated MDF sheets and a volunteer committee to pursue designs and fundraising.
Resident Blake Tellis presented options to the Mendon City Council on Sept. 11 for replacing or refurbishing Mendon's welcome signs. Tellis outlined material options, cost estimates and next steps and council members offered local contacts and pledged follow-up.
Tellis described material options for the lettering on the signs: PVC or high-density polyethylene (HDP) cut letters, water-jetted aluminum cut letters mounted with a spacer for a three-dimensional effect, routed pine letters (lower cost, shorter lifespan), and exterior-grade MDF that can be painted and sealed. He estimated a 4-foot-by-8-foot sheet of PVC at roughly $800 and said aluminum would be more costly; he did not provide a final per-letter cost but said he would continue collecting pricing.
During the discussion, a local industry representative offered to donate exterior-grade MDF (an exterior signboard product available in half-inch, 3/4-inch and 1-inch thicknesses) that can be CNC-cut and painted for signage. Council members and other residents suggested using local fabricators or CNC shops to produce letters and forming a small committee to determine the preferred materials and a funding path. Council members said they prefer frugal options first and recommended that interested residents convene a working group to return with concrete cost estimates and a recommended design.
Context and next steps: Council members noted prior social-media debate over sign replacement and said a community-led approach would be less contentious. The council urged the volunteer group to assess the structural integrity of the existing sign supports before buying replacement letters; if the backing is rotted, the council said the city may need to replace the sign structure as well rather than only the letters. The mayor asked the volunteer group to coordinate with staff and to report back with options and price estimates; council members also identified potential donors and community contributors willing to assist.
Ending: Blake Tellis and other volunteers agreed to form a small working group, gather vendor quotes and bring a proposal back to the council. Council members said they would consider funding or adding a project to next year's budget if residents recommend a durable, longer-term solution.
