Plans for new Holton sign discussed

The Jackson County Commissioners continue to brainstorm ways to remodel the southwest corner of the Courthouse courtyard with donated funds from Holton Main Street.

In the past two weeks, the commissioners have met with Chad Phillips, head custodian, and Jana Lutz and Vickie Pruett of Holton Main Street to discuss options for updating the railroad tie sign that sits at the corner of the courtyard.

Holton Main Street disbanded at the end of the year, and volunteers from the organization have met with the commissioners over the past few months to discuss donating leftover funds to improve the corner sign welcoming visitors to the Holton Square.

On Monday, Lutz and Pruett said that the organization has “roughly” $11,000 to donate to the remodel. They also noted that some of the funds could be used to replace aging Christmas lights used at the Courthouse.

The women, commissioners and Phillips discussed using native stones for the new sign and then landscaping the area with native plants. The commissioners suggested Lutz and Pruett contact a local masonry about creating a potential structure using native stones to match the Courthouse.

The commissioners said they would also like to add lighting to the new sign so it can be seen at night.

Phillips also voiced his concern with the condition of the current pond by the sign and said he would like to move it to a different part of the courtyard for several reasons.

“I don’t really like the location,” Phillips said. “It’s not very inviting, and if you sit on the bench, you are basically in the middle of the intersection.”

Phillips said that the pond leaks and that kids like to climb on and in it.

“People like it though, and it gets a lot of traffic,” he said. “But maintaining a pond at home and at the Courthouse are two different things.”

Phillips and the commissioners discussed the benefit of the pond, as well as the possibility of a water feature that didn’t include a pond.

Commissioner Rob Ladner noted that the Topeka Area Water Garden Society would be a good resource of information and said that they donate their services to one organization or entity a year.

Regarding the sign remodel, the commissioners suggested that Lutz and Pruett use local businesses to help with the work, as well as Phillips for the landscaping, in order to reduce the cost of the project.

The women asked commissioners if they would be willing to allocate county funds for the project, and the commissioners said they wanted to see some designs and estimates for the project before making any financial commitments.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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