This image shows the design suggestion for a new Le Mars welcome sign which will be posted on a pole near the south interchange of the Highway 75 bypass near Le Mars. The official design of the sign is yet to be decided. [Click to enlarge]

Le Mars City Council members took another step toward a new sign welcoming motorists traveling north on U.S. Highway 75.

The sign, to be located near the southern entrance to Le Mars from the Highway 75 bypass, was approved by the council Tuesday, subject to Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) clearance.

"We'd like to let people know 'This is Le Mars. Welcome. We'd sure like you to pull off and visit us,'" said Councilman John Leonard. "We'd like to draw people's attention, invite them to visit Le Mars and see what we have to offer,"

The proposed new sign, currently awaiting final design but presently similar to that pictured here, will be of pedestal-design constructed of plastic with a vinyl lamination finish. Projected sign cost is $10,000 to $15,000.

Leonard said the council will decide where the money for the sign will come from once it has the final design and bids.

"Whether it's economic development money or from the Joint Urban Renewal Area, we'll decide before we place the order," he said.

The Le Mars sign will be installed east of the Highway 75 bypass, north of C-38.

(Advertisement)

The sign will be mounted on top of a medium-high pole for visibility reasons, Leonard said.

"It will also make it easier to maintain the ground below it," he added.

Other Le Mars welcome signs may be a possibility in the future.

"I would expect the city will be looking at signage at the north interchange of the bypass," Leonard said.

A sign there would welcome southbound traffic on Highway 75 bypass to Le Mars.

The central interchange may or may not be chosen for a location of a third sign, Leonard said. That is still a matter of council discussion.

Council members had earlier expressed their interest in new city signage, but have been awaiting the final word from the IDOT following completion of the bypass.

The council also approved a request from Avery Outdoor to use as a billboard on the same property location owned by Tom Maser, Le Mars.

"It'll be similar to the billboards at the south and north ends of town, rented out to businesses who want to get the attention of people driving by," Leonard said. "We approved this sign for the benefit of local businesses -- anything to help get people to own and support them."

The approval of this billboard is also subject to IDOT approval.