Oshkosh Common Council rejects spending $200,000 on park signage

OSHKOSH, WI (WISS) – The Oshkosh Common Council voted to reject a bid for LED electronic message centers for the Parks Department, not because they found an issue with the bid company or the service, but rather because they did not want to spend the nearly $200,000 to purchase and install the signs. 

“I’m just not sure this is the right use of funds for it. And if I’m honest, I’d rather see consistent signage throughout the parks. But this is a big price tag for only three signs when there are a lot of things that are in need in those parks to be more consistent and to look better than they do now,” Common Council Member Kris Larson said.

In the 2025 Capital Improvements Plan, the Oshkosh Common Council allocated $190,000 to install three LED electronic message centers at Menominee Park, South Park, and the Leach Amphitheatre. The signs would replace worn, outdated signage at the locations. A bid to purchase the electronic message centers for $119,926 was placed before the Common Council at its August 12 meeting.

Oshkosh Parks Director Ray Maurer told the Common Council that, according to a recent survey of Oshkosh residents, the majority of them get their information on city events from social media, word of mouth, and newspapers.  Only 31 percent of the respondents mentioned marquee signage as a preferred method of communication.

Council member DJ Nichols agreed with Larson that nearly $200,000 is a significant amount to spend on a marketing method that may not be effective.

 ”Until we know how people are getting their information, and if this is truly adding the value that we think it is, $120,000, it’s a lot of money for three signs that will require maintenance over time,” Nichols said.

Not all of the council balked at the measure. Karl Buelow said marquee signs do get attention.

“They are high traffic. I think we will see – There are signs there now that I look at when I go by them to see what’s gonna be coming up in different announcements,” Buelow explained. “So I do see the value in this. It is a high price tag, but it’s also a good quality product that we’re gonna be putting up that’ll last a long time.”

While Mayor Matt Mugerauer said the electronic message centers are needed to help promote and gain interest in city and park events.

“Trying to market, trying to attract, trying to catch people’s eye to bring people to some of these functions that we have is a thing,” Mugerauer said. “It’s important, and this is a mechanism to do that.”

The vote to award the bid failed with a tied three-to-three vote. Mayor Matt Mugerauer, Deputy Mayor Joe Stephenson, and Council member Karl Buelow voted to accept the bid and move forward with the purchase. Council Members Brad Spanbauer, Kris Larson, and DJ Nichols voted against the signage purchase. Council member Jacob Floam was absent from the meeting.