City looking at vinyl wraps for utility boxes
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on March 10, 2022.
Herald photo by Al Beeber
A wrapped utility box is seen along the edge of Galt Gardens.LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
City council is tasking administration with the job of investigating the costs and processes of establishing a vinyl box utility wrap program here.
The motion, proposed by councillor John Middleton-Hope, says that some utility boxes in the city are weathered and aged making them unsightly. It was approved by an 8-1 vote Tuesday.
In 2020-21, the city’s public art program teamed with the electrical department on a pilot project to install vinyl art wraps on boxes in downtown and Galt Gardens.
Administration is being asked to return to council through the Cultural and Social Standing Policy Committee with a report by Nov. 8.
According to Middleton-Hope’s motion, Airdrie and the B.C. communities of Fernie, Enderby and Armstrong have implemented similar programs with electrical companies.
“I’m familiar with a community group that came forward a number of years ago in regard to the wrapping of utility boxes for their community, in particular. It was declined by the city at that time. Subsequent to that, the city has clearly made inroads into examining other communities” throughout the province and B.C. who use the wraps to enhance utility boxes, Middleton-Hope said.
“Some of these communities have either hosted paintings of various boxes or they’ve gone to these wraps,” he added.
“We completed a pilot project. If some of you have walked around Galt Gardens recently, there are a couple that have been done,” the councillor told his colleagues.
“It’s an opportunity to enhance our community rather than have these God-awful green boxes that sit there and rust,” he added.
Councillor Ryan Parker said it’s a good idea, adding he’s seen them in other communities.
“I can’t see much downside,” he added.
Deputy mayor Belinda Crowson said she couldn’t support the motion but was glad Middleton-Hope is actively promoting more funding for the public arts because “as anyone who knows the public arts programs knows, the only thing that’s actually holding them back, the only limitation they have to doing more of these, is funding. So this is actually a resolution that would actually bring them more funding.
She said one reason for opposing the motion was because “we are council and our role is governing, not operational.”
Crowson also said it’s the responsibility of the public arts program and public arts committee “to look at all the areas of public art. They have done a study of this, they’ve done a pilot. They are the ones who know what to do and what to bring forward and I also want to make sure we do things in a comprehensive, well thought-out matter so I would suggest we leave this to the arts community.”
Acting mayor Rajko Dodic said “public art comes under the umbrella of the Allied Arts Council so our role in governance is making sure that monies that were used to fund the public art was spent appropriately, so part of this resolution is to have the Allied Arts Council let us know how the money was spent, where it was spent and what might happen in terms of the future which is a governance role, not an operational one so I’ll be supporting this resolution.”
Mayor Blaine Hyggen also supported it, saying it’s a good idea and he’d heard about it for the past two years with individuals wanting to do something with the boxes which he said look terrible in some areas.
Councillor Jeff Carlson also supported it.
“It does a couple things. In my mind, it does recognize the good work that the Allied Arts Council has been doing in our community. I think we have seen the output of some of these projects around the downtown and I think we’ve all noticed how attractive and excellent they are,” Carlson said.
“It provides an opportunity to say ‘look how amazing these are. Do you want more? Here’s the price tag.’ So it opens the door for that opportunity.”
Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel also added her support.
“It’s great to see interest in the public art and make sure we are supporting that throughout our community. The boxes do serve to visually improve our downtown and support to our public art program is always something we should always be looking to do.”
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This whole thing is borderline farce in nature. Last July I contacted the City about doing something with the well worn and ugly green box in my front yard. I indicated that we were doing a complete re-work of the landscape in our yard and the only thing messing up the curb appeal was their decrepit looking box. So the journey begins with calling 311. 311 forwards me to another department somewhere electrical. Speaking to this person I was advised that they would pass it along to another department and that department would get back to me. Well they did, several days later and went through the whole scenario again. Was advised that there was some sort of pilot project being undertaken with several agencies to wrap the boxes. Subsequently an individual showed up several days after my initial contact, took a picture and since then haven’t heard a word. The only downside, my assessment went up and the only ugly thing on the property is the city’s faded out green box. Some suggestions, if they should want to start wrapping residential boxes, they must consult with the property owner. paint it or give us a tax break. I would like a nice landscape and not clown bubbles, This was in July of 2021.