Commission hears update on public-art signage; staff to return with refined quotes

Sandusky’s Boards & Commissions received an update on the city’s public-art signage program and agreed to wait for refined vendor quotes before approving purchases.

A staff member told the commission the city has identified nine installations that lack signage and is seeking quotes for seven ground-mounted signs and two mounted signs. “I had hoped to bring you a price and get a vote to move forward, but unfortunately, I’ll explain why,” the staff member said, explaining that refined vendor estimates were not available in time for the meeting.

Staff described a low-profile ground sign intended to sit partly below grade so it can be moved without concrete footings and will not obstruct mowing. The design uses the city logo, the work’s title, artist, year, materials and a short description; staff said the design was inspired by signage at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Commission members pressed staff on mounting and ownership questions after staff suggested some signs might be bolted to adjacent fence posts or a remaining wall rather than attached to artwork directly. One commissioner said they were “a little concerned putting it on a piece of art … there’s the integrity of the piece,” and staff replied they would check ownership and preferred attaching signs to fences or walls rather than sculptures.

Staff said the project has a $20,000 allocation. She cited an earlier lowest quote for a larger batch (12 pieces) of about $8,000 and said, after reducing the list to the seven ground-mounted signs plus two mounted ones, the final quotes may be in the $7,000–$7,500 range, though refined estimates must be returned before a purchase decision.

The commission took no purchase action at the meeting; staff will return next month with refined quotes and a recommendation.

The meeting moved on to other agenda items.