Urbanna council approves MOU with Urbanna Main Street for grant-funded wayfinding signs

The Urbanna Town Council voted to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Urbanna Main Street on Sept. 24 that will let the nonprofit place grant-funded wayfinding signs on town property. Andrea, the town's account manager, summarized the agreement as carrying the procurement and installation responsibilities for Main Street while giving the town approval rights over sign design and siting.

Urbanna Main Street's presenter said the group received a $15,000 community vitality grant for the initial signage and has applied for a $75,000 planning grant that would, if awarded, be administered by the town. Sarah Jane Wyatt, a Main Street organizer, said the $15,000 has already been deposited into the nonprofit's account and that the planning grant, if successful, must be routed through the municipality. Wyatt told the council the signs are intended to be updateable (clear inserts on a metal or plastic base) and that the group hopes to start with five signs in the first phase.

Council members pressed Main Street on procurement and oversight language in the MOU, including a provision described in the packet as a "deed of gift" for the signs. Andrea explained the deed-of-gift language was suggested to treat signs as town property to avoid additional VDOT red tape; a council member clarified that, in practice, a deed-of-gift can also be used to transfer personal property when structured as proof of transfer. The council moved and approved the MOU "as presented" on a roll-call vote with all members recorded as voting yes.

The MOU requires Main Street to confirm procurement compliance and to check sign proofs with the town before ordering. Main Street representatives said they will maintain an updated directory and coordinate community input on later phases. The approval does not obligate the town to accept any future planning grant; councilors said they expect a separate work session if the larger grant is awarded.