Fred Meyer downplays impact of Palmer sign

PALMER -- A Fred Meyer spokesman from Oregon is defending the company's plans for a sign off West Evergreen Avenue near the new Palmer store, saying it is smaller than the one originally planned.

Rob Boley, Fred Meyer's assistant vice president of public information in Portland, countered criticism from some local residents that the sign will be too big -- creating safety problems as well as being an eyesore. Critics contend the company promised that a low monument-type sign would be built.

Boley said that's exactly what will go in at the Evergreen entrance.

"We're planning a monument built right on the ground, only 20 inches off the ground," he said Monday. "The top of the sign will be no more than 12 feet off the ground."

Two poles have been erected at the entrance to support the sign. Boley said Monday that earlier plans called for a taller single pole for signage.

"There were requests made by the city" for the sign's height to be scaled back, he said.

Palmer Community Development Director Sara Jansen has said Fred Meyer's latest design meets city requirements.

Meanwhile, Boley said the store is on track for opening sometime during the first three months of 2004.

"It's one of the smaller stores we've built," he said, "but it will be nice to have the store there. A lot of people are driving down to the Wasilla [Fred Meyer] store now."

Boley said he's unsure how many employees will be hired. However, the company already has begun advertising full-time and part-time jobs with applications available at Mat-Su Job Center.

Positions range from security to meat cutters to clerks with a total of 19 job descriptions posted on the Alaska Job Bank Web site. Applications will be taken only through Jan. 2, 2004, according to information on the Web site.