Downtown speakers would cost $9K for Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 August 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – It seemed easy and cheap enough back in May when Town Councilman Jake Olles first proposed downtown speakers for the village. Olles wanted music piped into Albion’s downtown and he thought the project could be done for about $1,000.

Olles and the Town Board said they would pay for the project with money out of the town’s parks budget. Olles envisioned 10 speakers in the downtown. Wire would run through existing light poles.

The initiative hasn’t proven so easy or so cheap. The light poles are at capacity for wire. There is no room for more wire in the light poles to accommodate the speakers, village officials said.

They have investigated wireless speakers and a music system, and found they would cost about $9,000. The speakers would be loud enough for music to be heard from the courthouse, down Main and Bank streets and to the Erie Canal.

The speakers could also be used to announce parades and other community events.

Village officials want to bring the music to the downtown. They are going to meet with members of the Town Board to discuss how to pay for the system, which will likely include about $300 a year in licensing fees for the music.

The town and village may split the total costs. That will be discussed in an upcoming meeting with representatives from the two municipalities.

“It would be nice to have especially during the holidays and the Strawberry Festival,” said Village Trustee Pete Sidari.