The town’s beleaguered digital menu board, aka “I-Sign,” may live to glow again and direct tourists to Chestertown’s shops, eateries and other points of interest. It just won’t be found on the corner of High and Cross Streets.
The town council held an audio-visual “Go To Meeting” with Robert Pearson of Four Winds Interactive during Monday’s council meeting to discuss the benefits of having the Denver company replace the sign’s computer and software.
Pearson led the council through a power point show to share samples of his company’s work. Four Winds Interactive says they have installed 150,000 interactive menu boards in 64 countries for private, state and government clients.
Costs of renovating the computer and software are approximately $3,200, plus a yearly maintenance and licensing fee of $1,300, plus a one-time fee of $1,000-$1,800 for training materials.
One suggested option for financing the restoration and the yearly fee is a partnership between the county, city and Downtown Chestertown Association. The DCA currently owns the sign.
Pearson added that the town would be able to curate the content without having to go through Four Winds Interactive, and that it could link to the town’s new website.
An ongoing question has been the viability of a smartphone app with similar features or the just use the current town website on their smartphones.
Pearson said it was not an either/or scenario but that all applications would be helpful to visitors.
Bernadette Bowman, Kent County Office of Tourism Director, reiterated her support for the renovation of the digital sign. Her offices had been instrumental in finding grant funding for the original sign.
Mayor Cerino said he would like to have the Council decide on the sign’s future during the next meeting.
Linda Parry says
“Costs of renovating the computer and software are approximately $3,200, plus a yearly maintenance and licensing fee of $1,300, plus a one-time fee of $1,000-$1,800 for training materials.”
Huh? What? We have to pay for this all over again? Doesn’t come with a warranty? Seems to me it was already paid for, and it NEVER worked properly. Makes more sense to me to send the equipment back and get a refund – or have the equipment replaced at no cost to us. This is no way to do business!
Linda Parry
Stephan Sonn says
The decisions and and processes for selection are totally flawed. Do it locally with a simple cost effective
off the shelf program package and make it interactive. The present equipment is outdated by price and technology.
The outdoor placement guarantees high maintenance with ongoing billing.. Put it in the Alexander Building
passageway ore the old bookstore and solve most of the breakdown problems.
Steve Payne says
The problem I’ve observed several times was the display itself. In the sun and heat it wasn’t readable and once it even had large black spots on it.