New Norris signs proposed; workshop planned Feb. 8
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This hard plastic and steel sign has been proposed by the Norris Community Development Board for the two traditional entrances to the city. They would be posted on the existing stone sign structures, and replace the wooden signs that have been in place for
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This sign at Norris Freeway and West Norris Road is one of the entrance signs that would be replaced with a new sign under a proposal being considered by the City Coun- cil. The small signs listing Norris businesses and organizations would be permanently removed.
New signs welcoming people to the city of Norris may soon be posted to replace two of the aging wooden signs that are showing signs of deterioration.
At last week’s (Jan. 8) City Council meeting, the Norris Community Development Board presented an artist’s rendering of the proposed new sign reading simply “NORRIS” on top in large letters, over “A National Historic City.”
The City Council voted to hold a special workshop meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, prior to the 6 p.m. regular council meeting, to discuss the proposal for the new signs.
They would be posted at the two traditional entrances to Norris – at Norris Freeway and West Norris Road, and Andersonville Highway and East Norris Road – and would not encompass the expanded Norris boundaries that have resulted from annexations over the past two decades.
On the west side, at the corner of Norris Freeway (U.S. 441) and West Norris Road, the sign would be two-sided, as it can be seen coming from both directions into Norris.
At the south entrance, on the left side of East Norris Road just after turning into Norris off Andersonville Highway, there would be a single-sided sign with the same lettering as the other one.
Both would be hung up using the existing stone bases for the current signs.
Gone would be the smaller signs that list businesses and churches in the community, as they do not include all of them, Councilman Will Grinder said.
According to estimates presented to the council last week, the double-sided sign would cost $8,257, and the single-sided sign would be $7,788. The council already has money in the city’s budget earmarked for the new signs.
They would be made of “a multi-layered product [composed] of polystyrene and a proprietary Poly-Amor coating attached to a heavy gauge stainless steel sheet for stabilization,” according to a fact sheet presented to the council. Val-U-Signs of Oak Ridge would provide the signs.
The proposal says that the new signs would keep the “Current look and ‘feel’ to preserve history,” and would use the existing natural stone bases “to reduce cost.” They also would be lighted at night.
Also, the new signs would “[Simplify] the sign content by removing all names of Norris organizations,” and “Replace wood with more durable materials that [require] less maintenance.”
Grinder, who is former chairman of the development board and is still a member, brought up the idea of new signs as part of a Norris “rebranding” initiative during the Jan 9, 2023, City Council meeting.
He said the rebranding” could help identify and promote the city’s mission and image to outsiders.
“We’re calling it the Norris Image Identity Project, also known as a branding effort,” Grinder told The Courier News at the time. “We hope it would turn out to be something that helps express what Norris is all about, and result in some nice new signs that reflect all the years the city has been here.”
Grinder said some of the ideas about replacing the signs came from board member Lisa Barger, who also is a member of the Norris Lions Club, which as part of its service work in the community helps to keep the current signs maintained.
“It would be nice to upgrade the signs with something that’s really nice, and incorporates a logo or look for Norris,” Grinder said. “That’s my vision.
“We’re going to get some information from a branding company, get some help with the process. It would be nice to have it done professionally.”
The branding effort would involve creating a marketing image for the city, but would not go beyond that to set any kind of requirements on land use, Grinder said.
“We would hope to have some community involvement in developing a logo and a mission statement for Norris,” he said.
As for the new signs, Grinder said earlier that he would like to see more of them, and to have some put at the newer entrances to the city.
“Coming from Clinton, the actual city itself starts at Meadow View [Senior Living] on Andersonville Highway,” Grinder said.
But even though Norris annexed that area more than 10 years ago, there isn’t a “Norris City Limits” sign there to indicate to motorists that they are even entering the city, Grinder noted.
“The most important part is what you’re going to put on the signs, and there must be community involvement,” Grinder said.
“And they need to look like they’ve always been there.”