Of the 531 who responded to the online survey 90 percent liked the old 1884 seal over Roanoke City’s current 1906 version. City Council’s voice vote was 5-1 in favor of reverting to the 1884 city seal.
Councilman Dave Trinkle was absent and Mayor Bowers was the lone dissenter. Most of those favoring the current 1906 seal asked why the city was “wasting their time on it,” said City Manager Chris Morrill. Others commented that it would be too expensive and others wanted to have a contest for a new seal. “That would get into hundreds of thousands of dollars for these,” he said.
Legislative offices will only have to print a new seal at a cost of $6. The three flags will cost $187 each. The seal behind the dais would only require peeling off the current seal and replacing it with the 1884 seal at a cost of $141. The cost for changing stationary will be less than $200 said Morrill. The city clerk would need a new stamp at a cost of between $89 and $400 depending on the detail required.
The total cost of reverting back to the 1884 seal will be $1308.78. “Because it is so critical to how we portray ourselves to the world that is probably a reasonable cost,” said Morrill.
City Attorney Dan Callaghan will prepare changes to the city charter.
– By Valerie Garner
