Northlake councils approve up to $850,000 for entry monument signs; CDC allocates $425,000

At a joint meeting of the NorthlakeTown Council's Economic Development Council (EDC) and Community Development Council (CDC), members voted to approve funding to construct three entry monument signs at town limits, a project budgeted at $850,000 to be split between the two bodies.

Nathan (speaker 4) told the councils the project is classified as a "type B" project that requires public notice and a public hearing; notice was published on Jan. 10 and, per Nathan, the project cannot be undertaken until 60 days after that notice (March 11). He listed next steps as securing property or easements for sign locations, finalizing designs for each site, and bidding the work.

The councils opened the public hearing and heard no public comments. James (speaker 5) moved that the CDC approve the entry‑monument signage project for the amount of $425,000; a member seconded and the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. For the EDC, speaker 6 moved to approve the project with a total amount not to exceed $850,000, with up to $425,000 to be funded by the EDC; a second was recorded and the motion passed.

Council members described the hearing as largely procedural; one member noted the topic had been discussed in prior meetings. The councils did not record individual roll‑call votes in the available transcript, but the chair announced each motion carried unanimously.

Next steps spelled out in the briefing include obtaining any necessary easements (one site is in the public right-of-way; another requires an easement from a developer), finalizing sign designs, issuing a solicitation, and selecting a contractor. Nathan reiterated that no construction should be expected before the project's statutory waiting period ends on March 11.

The meeting then moved to an executive session later in the agenda to discuss economic development negotiations.