Park board extends park license plate contest

Park board extends park license plate contest

Tim Leeds

The Hill County Park Board Monday decided to — again — extend its contest to find a license plate pattern for a specialty plate for the county site, saying that while the entries received were better, nothing really jumped out as the right design.

"I don't think we need to rush into anything, really …, " board member June Grabofsky said. "Let's find something that … everybody says, 'Hey, that's it. '"

The board agreed to move forward to look for new or revised entries, with a new deadline likely to be in the late summer or early fall. That also would allow people the opportunity to get photographs with spring or summer colors.

After receiving six entries in the contest, which started in December, the board in February narrowed it down to two entries, but those did not meet specifications. They resubmitted them to the people who entered them, looking to have them modified.

But at its meeting Monday, the board agreed that they need something a little different — particularly something with more color.

Board member Robbie Lucke said that the most colorful specialty plate he has seen is for Glacier National Park, the plate that inspired him to suggest a Beaver Creek Park plate.

"It has a lot of color, and that sells, " he said.

Hill County Commission Chair Mike Wendland said the way the contest and state specifications read could have led people to believe they should use less color.

Lesley Zellmer, assistant to the park superintendent, suggested that something be done to explain the state requirements. Most entries did not meet those specifications.

Grabofsky suggested presenting simplified information to help more people present entries in the correct specifications.

Lucke said that, while the original goal was to have a design selected in time for production and sale early this summer, a later selection also could get it out in time for the Christmas season.

"I was thinking, maybe it's more important to get the right plate than to make the (summer) deadline, " he said.

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Online: Montana Department of Transportation specialty license plate specifications: http://www.doj.mt.gov/driving/forms/mv115mv117.pdf.

The Hill County Park Board Monday decided to — again — extend its contest to find a license plate pattern for a specialty plate for the county site, saying that while the entries received were better, nothing really jumped out as the right design.

"I don't think we need to rush into anything, really …, " board member June Grabofsky said. "Let's find something that … everybody says, 'Hey, that's it. '"

The board agreed to move forward to look for new or revised entries, with a new deadline likely to be in the late summer or early fall. That also would allow people the opportunity to get photographs with spring or summer colors.

After receiving six entries in the contest, which started in December, the board in February narrowed it down to two entries, but those did not meet specifications. They resubmitted them to the people who entered them, looking to have them modified.

But at its meeting Monday, the board agreed that they need something a little different — particularly something with more color.

Board member Robbie Lucke said that the most colorful specialty plate he has seen is for Glacier National Park, the plate that inspired him to suggest a Beaver Creek Park plate.

"It has a lot of color, and that sells, " he said.

Hill County Commission Chair Mike Wendland said the way the contest and state specifications read could have led people to believe they should use less color.

Lesley Zellmer, assistant to the park superintendent, suggested that something be done to explain the state requirements. Most entries did not meet those specifications.

Grabofsky suggested presenting simplified information to help more people present entries in the correct specifications.

Lucke said that, while the original goal was to have a design selected in time for production and sale early this summer, a later selection also could get it out in time for the Christmas season.

"I was thinking, maybe it's more important to get the right plate than to make the (summer) deadline, " he said.

Online: Montana Department of Transportation specialty license plate specifications (PDF document).