Big sign spelling U-T-I-C-A planned for village

Letters will be mounted 6 feet high on Route 178

You know the sign that spells “Hollywood” nestled in the hills of LA? Utica plans to mount some prominent letters of its own, U-T-I-C-A, outside its new village hall.

Thursday, the Utica Village Hall approved the purchase of a sign, not to exceed $15,216, with the understanding Mayor David Stewart will seek matching funds to defray the costs to the village.

Village trustees signed off on the plan to mount letters, 6 feet high, on Route 178 at Canal Street on the grounds of the newly-opened village hall. Stewart said Heritage Corridor put him in touch with a sign company that pitched a few idea, one of which caught Stewart’s eye.

“I really thought this stood out,” Stewart said. “If everything goes according to plan we could have it in by end of April, beginning of May.”

Separately, the board authorized Stewart to negotiate the transfer of the Oak Hill Cemetery to the village. The cemetery already sits in village limits but the sexton soon will be unable to maintain it; the cemetery board has approached the village about taking over maintenance.

“If they gave it up, I’m afraid it would be overrun,” Stewart said, “and there’s a lot of history in the community.”

Separately, the village modified the licensing fees for its gaming machines, 46 of them at last count. The board adopted an ordinance that imposes a $250 fee per machine.

In other matters, the board:

  • Donated $500 to Utica Fire Department for the annual Smoker on March 4
  • Moved the Feb. 24 committee meeting to 5:30 p.m.
  • Approved an agreement with H.R. Green, Inc. to help with a regulatory permit for the wastewater treatment plant for $8,500