DIXFIELD — The Select Board has voted to spend an estimated $51,585 in federal pandemic relief money for a new electronic message sign and three “Welcome to Dixfield’ signs.

Town Manager Alicia Conn said the new sign will replace the donated one in front of the Ludden Memorial Library at 42 Main St., which she said is “very limited as to what we can have and it’s only facing in the wierdest direction.”

The new one, which is priced at $48,000, will include software updates that can be done from anywhere.

Conn said Erik Designs in Rumford offered to create the ‘Welcome to Dixfield’ signs for $3,585. They would be placed on roads coming from Mexico, East Dixfield and Weld.

Select Board voted 4-1 for the expenditures at their Oct. 28 meeting. Chairman Richard Pickett, Vice Chairman Peter Holman, Laurie Woodhead and Angela Varnum voted in favor; Janice Merrill was opposed.

The town received $262,865 from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Pickett said that after spending $51,585 for the signs, there would be $7,354 left.

From that amount Conn said she wants to purchase two more sets of turnout gear for the Fire Department. So far, the town has purchased 12 sets of boots and 12 sets of clothing.

Previously, the town used its federal allotment for a handicapped accessible door to the Town Office, a security camera for the Town Office and updated software and technology.