Hanover EDA backs idea for banner poles in CSAH 19 medians, leaves funding question to council

The Hanover Economic Development Authority voted March 20 to express support to City Council for installing banner poles within medians along the County State‑Aid Highway (CSAH) 19 corridor, while asking that Council later determine where funding would come from. The motion passed unanimously following staff presentation and board discussion.

City Administrator Jennifer Nash told the EDA that utility pole relocations for the CSAH 19 reconstruction mean most poles slated for decorations are owned by Xcel Energy, which "will not permit any further hanging of decorations from their poles that hold transmission power lines," leaving gaps between roundabout light poles that can carry banners. Nash said engineers provided a ballpark figure of about $5,000 per median pole and suggested that roughly three poles could help fill those gaps.

Chair Sam Rudie moved and Jessica Johnson seconded a motion "to express EDA support to Council for banner poles to be installed within medians in the CSAH 19 corridor and request further discussion in the future as to where funding would come from for these poles." The board voted in favor; no roll‑call was recorded in the minutes.

EDA members said they were interested in the poles to allow decorations and banners to run continuously along the corridor but discussed whether the EDA should fund installation or whether Council should appropriate funds from another source. Nash noted that prior EDA conversations about beautification had centered on funding features for roundabout centers, so using EDA funds for median poles was not previously resolved.

Next steps: the motion expresses EDA support to Council and requests further discussion of funding; staff or Council is expected to return with options about funding sources and specific installation locations before any purchase or construction takes place.