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Mukwonago downtown committee approves estimate and sample for new historic sign design
Summary
The village downtown committee approved a motion to proceed with a vendor estimate and a 12x12 print sample to finalize copy and materials for a proposed historic sign; members also discussed adding a small bear motif and confirmed funding sources in the beautification budget.
The Downtown Development Committee in Mukwonago voted to approve moving forward with a fabrication estimate and a 12-by-12 sample for a proposed historic sign, aiming to finalize copy, materials and installation details.
The motion, moved by the Presenter and seconded by a Committee member, authorized staff to accept the vendor estimate from the Bureau of Correctional Enterprises as presented and to include delivery and any sampling charges needed for a 12-by-12 verification sample. The motion passed on a voice vote, with committee members saying "aye;" the transcript records the voice vote but does not include a roll-call tally.
Why it matters: Committee members said finalizing the sign this year is important because $20,000 was budgeted in the capital improvement plan for wayfinding and signage. The sign is intended as part of the village’s downtown wayfinding and historic-marking effort and must incorporate accurate historical copy vetted by local contributors and the Waukesha County Historical Society.
Committee discussion focused on design details and long-term durability. One participant described trade-offs between an engineered-grade reflective printed panel and a higher-cost laminated panel, noting that printed faces can be replaced periodically at lower cost while higher-end panels may last longer but cost more up front. The Presenter urged getting a physical sample before committing to full production: "I guess I would make a motion to approve the proposal from the Bureau of Correctional Enterprises for the sum of [estimate read in transcript] plus delivery plus any sampling charges as we wish to include a 12 by 12 sample for the copy verification," the Presenter said during the motion.
Members also discussed sign imagery and copy. Several supported adding a small bear imprint or paw print on the historic sign to reference a local wooden bear at the museum, while rejecting a larger cutout bear. The committee directed staff to confirm final copy, spacing and placement before production.
Funding and accounting questions were raised in the meeting. Committee members reviewed a finance summary and discussed the beautification fund; one member reported a year-end 2025 beautification balance of roughly $6,900 (amount described in the meeting as approximately $6,912), and the Presenter confirmed $20,000 in the capital improvement budget for wayfinding signage this year.
What’s next: Staff will obtain the requested 12-by-12 sample, verify final copy and spacing with committee reviewers, confirm installation logistics with the fabricator or local installer, and proceed under the approved estimate subject to final edits. The committee plans to bring final production authorization back to the board as needed.
Note on transcript precision: the vendor estimate amount was read aloud during the meeting but the digits are unclear in the transcript; the committee record indicates an estimate was provided by the Bureau of Correctional Enterprises and the committee approved proceeding with that estimate and a verification sample.
