by ANDY SEVILLA
Kyle and Buda will soon see their names in lights.
Both Hays County cities are in the midst of installing a LED (light-emitting diode) electronic sign, each, in high traffic areas.
The move comes after Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PEC) informed the cities they would end their years-long assistance to Kyle and Buda in hanging over-the-road banners as “there is a growing concern for the safety of (PEC) employees as they perform this task,” according to an April 2, 2012 letter addressed to Kyle City Manager Lanny Lambert.
But, in good faith, PEC offered to reimburse each city up to $25,000 for purchase and installation of a LED electronic sign, though that installation has to occur on or prior to April 30 to be eligible for reimbursement.
Both cities are presently undertaking the task of installing the electronic signs and officials with Kyle and Buda said all indications are that the projects will be completed by the target date.
Kyle’s lighted marquee is expected to cost $40,000. The city will pay $25,000 up front for the project, anticipating a reimbursement from PEC, and will use $15,000 appropriated from a Hays County grant for parks and improvements, according to the fiscal note.
“The overall cost of the marquee/monuments is $39,976. We got every square inch of height and size we could with the budget we had,” said Kyle Parks Directod Kerry Urbanowicz.
Concrete numbers were not available for Buda, but City Manager Kenneth Williams said that should the cost exceed $25,000, the city “anticipates having some savings from the installation of other monument signs in (Buda), which will cover any overage.”
Kyle and Buda will each “install, own, operate and maintain the (electric) sign on its property or property obtained for such purpose,” the PEC letter said. “The city will be responsible for all costs associated with electric service for the sign.”
In Kyle, the lighted sign is being installed at the Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park and should be fully operational by April 1.
Urbanowicz said the final installation of the lettering and testing of the marquee is underway.
In Buda, Williams said the city studied putting the electric marquee at Main Street at Interstate 35, Cabelas at Old San Antonio Road and Main Street at Cabelas Drive before settling at the median on Main Street, across from Walgreens near the intersection with County Road 117 (Old San Antonio Road).
Buda Planning Director Chance Sparks said most of the marquee’s work is completed and the city is awaiting the arrival of the actual LED boards.
“We anticipate completing the sign well before (PEC’s April 30 deadline,” Sparks said.