New digital sign cost Eugene police $110,000

A new digital sign in front of the Eugene Police Department cost $110,000, said Melinda McLaughlin, a department spokesperson.

The two-sided digital sign, which is mounted on a blue base that’s roughly 8 feet tall and features a department crest, displays color images and text. It’s meant to share information and also help people find the police building at 300 Country Club Road, McLaughlin said.

“The new sign’s size and display is more visible, and people will be less likely to miss the entrance and drive by when they are under stress and trying to get to a police station quickly for help,” she said in a statement.

She added the sign will also display Amber Alerts or similar information about missing persons, plus other emergency notifications. It replaces a low-slung sign without any electronic display.

“It is energy efficient, with auto light sensing for dimming and low-level functions,” she said, adding that no ongoing maintenance is required for the sign, with technical support included in the purchase price. It is expected to last about 20 years.

Event information and recruitment messages will also be on display.

The Police Department made the purchase last year, with the installation completed on Monday, July 28.

The money for the sign comes from the city’s general fund and also the Community Safety Payroll Tax, McLaughlin said.

The City Council in 2019 approved the tax, which applies to all employers and self-employed workers with a physical business location within the city limits, according to the city’s website.

Employers must pay taxes both on wages they pay out and also on behalf of their employees. The tax rate is 44 cents for every $100 in wages, though workers earning less than $602 per week are exempt.

The city in 2020 approved a digital sign code, but a city spokesperson, Lindsay Selser, said the new police sign is exempt from the code because it is considered a public sign. Permits were approved in May for the project.

“We submitted for and received a city permit just like any other citizen or business,” McLaughlin said. The sign was built and installed by Eugene Sign & Awning.