Wayfinding signs get final approval

Whitefish’s new wayfinding signs are on schedule to be installed just before the start of the summer tourist season.

City Council awarded Jan. 22 a contract to Epcon Sign Company of Billings and Missoula to manufacture the directional signs at a cost of $110,946.

The wayfinding project calls for two gateway signs and 47 directional signs that will point visitors to public destinations throughout town such as City Beach, the Whitefish Trail and the Stumptown Ice Den. Whitefish Mountain Resort is the only commercial destination that will be part of the wayfinding sign package. The city hopes to have the signs installed by July 4.

In October, council unanimously rejected a $260,000 bid placed by Epcon, and directed staff to work with the Wayfinding Committee and vendors to revise the bidding documents, and advertise a second time for bids. Four bids were submitted in the second round, with Epon being the lowest.

Council authorized city manager Chuck Stearns to contract for installation of the signs with the total cost of project not to exceed $150,000.

Tax increment funds will be used for the project. The Heart of Whitefish paid for the initial consultant.

Councilor Phil Mitchell was the lone vote against awarding the bid to Epcon. He said he’s just not in favor in the signs in general.

“Signs tend to be urban blight,” he said. “I’m opposed to the amount of signs.”