Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006 • City plans to sell Never Sweat Centennial banners
Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006, edition of the Lassen County Times.
The City Council directed staff to sell 42 Never Sweat banners put on display for Susanville’s Centennial in 2000 and recently retired.
It agreed at its Wednesday, Oct. 4, meeting that selling the banners for $50 each was reasonable but who to sell them to was the question of the night. As of today, Oct. 24, no decision has been reached as to how the banners will be sold.
Because of their historical value, the council agreed the banners needed to be made available in a fair way and suggested City Administrator Luann Rainey look into selling them in a blind drawing system, giving every interested person or group a chance to own one of the banners.
According to a staff report by Community Development Director Bill Nebeker, a few banners that were never hung on Main Street and are in new condition will be reserved for donation to the Lassen County Historical Museum, the Lassen County Historical Society, City Hall and the visitor’s center.
A local recreational vehicle club, the Nataqua Neversweats, which has about 25 members, expressed interest in acquiring some of the used banners to place on RVs at different recreational vehicle events.
The members will have a chance to own a banner the same way other citizens will get the chance.
“There is a lot of history here,” said Councilmember Doug Sayers, who also said the banners need to be sold at an affordable price.
Mayor Lino Callegari also suggested a few banners be set aside to be sold to those less fortunate and could not pay the $50.
Earlier this year the city replaced the banners. Finance Director Robert Porfiri said the banners are surplus and can be disposed of the way the council wants.
The banners measure 2.5 feet by 5 feet in size and are purple, blue and green in color and are made a heavy canvas material. In white lettering, the banners state: “Land of the Never Sweats — Centennial 1900-2000 — Susanville.”
Of the original banners displayed, about 30 were destroyed and lost through weathering, faulty brackets and/or vandalism.
The original cost of 80 banners including brackets and hardware to affix them to the poles was $12,507.01. Excluding the brackets, the cost was about $50 per banner.
