Commission authorizes staff to negotiate billboard lease for Love's Travel Stops near Exit 79

City staff and Love's Travel Stops representatives discussed a proposed land lease for roughly 350 square feet of city-owned property near Exit 79 to place a directional billboard intended to keep heavy trucks off downtown streets. Staff recommended a base annual lease in the $500–$1,000 range (staff suggested about $750 as a reasonable starting point), and commissioners debated placement near water tanks, future tank-art possibilities, and whether to set a base flat rate plus square-foot charges.

Barbara, a Love's representative, told the commission the company’s reported sales were below expectations and that better wayfinding was important to keep trucks from using downtown turns: “Like you said, they're really seeing that sign... We're less than 50% of where we need to be,” she said. Commissioners authorized the city manager and attorney to finalize a land-lease agreement, asked staff to walk the site for final placement to avoid interfering with tank maintenance or future art, and directed staff to pursue a base annual rate around $7.50 per sq ft (approx. $750) with an escalator and administrative authority to finalize details.