April 21, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Leaders of the DeKalb County Farmers Market are seeking funding from the county for a new outdoor digital sign to promote events there and at the county complex.
Farmers Market President Eddie Ray and Treasurer Connie Tjarks addressed the county budget committee Tuesday night.
Last summer the budget committee had recommended appropriating $40,000 from the capital projects fund of the budget for a new outdoor LED sign for the county complex and Farmers Market to advertise events there but it was stripped out of the budget by the county commission.
The Farmers Market is located on East Bryant Street right beside DeKalb Ace Hardware and the county complex Building but Tjarks said many people can’t find it because it’s not visible from South Congress Boulevard.
“There are several reasons we need it. One is we are here almost every Saturday from April to November and when people discover us many say they didn’t know we were there. We are really hidden behind ACE Hardware. You can’t see us from the highway. About the only way is if you are going down the side street (East Bryant Street). The sign would be great for us. We could advertise what were are offering on a given Saturday such as tomatoes, onions, or whatever. We have ten vendors who are there every week and twenty who come and go according to whatever produce they have. It would also be good for the county complex to advertise events inside like the Women’s Expo (which was held last weekend) or whatever happens to be going on at the complex at the time. It’s a dual purpose thing,” said Tjarks.
“You could advertise the Jamboree and the DeKalb County Fair (on the sign). There’s a lot of stuff that could go on that (sign) to really benefit this community and the county. We are a non-profit. We just pay our utilities and keep up insurance so we’re at your mercy so if you could help us with a sign we sure would appreciate it,” said Ray.
No action has yet been taken.