The Town of Hillsborough previously had some snags in its flag locations after Duke Energy prevented the town from flying flags on its electrical poles. Now, Hillsborough is pivoting to flying banners through town instead.
Last week, the town’s Board of Commissioners gave approval for Hillsborough staff to finalize designs and send requests to Duke Energy to put banners along power poles that previously had flags mounted on them.
The town had flown flags in downtown for many years, but last year it flew LGBTQ pride flags for the first time. Some complaints about those pride flags, however, resulted in no flags being able to fly on any Duke Energy pole.
While Duke Energy said it does not allow flags to be hung from its power poles for safety reasons, decorative banners are allowed with two pole banner arms. The Town of Hillsborough has displayed “Welcome to Hillsborough” banners for years, which are slated to be replaced with the new town logo.
Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver recently spoke with 97.9 The Hill about the town’s plan for these new decorations.
“We are no longer allowed to have flags on poles,” Weaver said. “These are banners. [Duke Energy] needed a full design because we needed some that have pride flags on them for Pride Month and also some that have the U.S. flag and the North Carolina flag for federal holidays, plus the ones that we will have up all the other days of the year.”
Proposed banner designs. (Photo via Town of Hillsborough)
At the Board of Commissioners meeting, Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood said consistency is a key aspect of the town’s banner project.
“This is actually a lot more consistent locations than we have in downtown right now,” Trueblood said. “A lot of these either didn’t get a banner or they were broken at some point over time and never reinstalled. The whole idea behind the project is to get a consistent height, a consistent design and consistent installation.”
Weaver said she hopes the banner agreement with Duke Energy will be in place to have the decorations hung by June.
“There’s lots going on in June,” Weaver said. “Beyond Flag Day itself, there’s Juneteenth and then there’s also Pride Month. [Hanging the banners by that stretch is] our goal and our staff really is doing their best to do all they can to get us there in time.”
In February, town staff determined 42 poles in the downtown and 39 poles in commercial areas along Churton Street, King Street and Margaret Lane. These locations would all have 30-inch by 60-inch banners currently used by the town.
Proposed banner locations. (Photo via Town of Hillsborough)
The “Welcome” banners will remain up the entire year, with the American flag, North Carolina flag and pride flag banners rotating for specific holidays and events.
Photos via the Town of Hillsborough
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