The District of Sparwood has agreed to set aside funds to light up the Titan Truck with professionally installed LED lights.
According to Chief Administrative Officer Terry Melcer, the lights could cost anywhere between approximately $30-60,000 to buy and install.
The funds for these lights will be reallocated from the city’s float, which will be put into storage for two years. During this time, the float will undergo upgrades, according to Sparwood Coun. Joanne Wilton.
The only exception to the temporary retiring of the float will be for its scheduled appearance in the annual Coalminers Day Parade in June.
“If our goal of the float is to increase exposure of the District of Sparwood to our neighbours, we feel that this project would do just that. We’re not saying to never use the float again,” said Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko, “but to instead reallocate those funds to a project that would give a lot of visibility to the city.”
According to the Chamber of Commerce, attraction to Titan Park has never been higher. The visitor count from January 2014 to September 15 totaled 57,883, exceeding the entirety of last year’s 55,000 visitors. This gives council all the more reason to invest in the lights.
The idea came from Halko and Wilton who had seen LED displays of this nature at various trade shows.
Halko likened the lights to those featured at the parliament buildings in Victoria.
The proposed lights would not only outline the truck, but could also feature elaborately detailed scenes of Sparwood that could change with the seasons or be changed for special occasions, according to Coun. Wilton.
“When we spoke to [the lighting company] they were very interested in giving us a really good deal because they were so excited about being able to do a project like this on a truck,” said Wilton. “I think there’s lots of room for negotiation on pricing.”