EVANS CITY — The mayor’s program to hang military banners from utility poles along Main Street in the summer is taking shape.

Mayor Dean Zinkhann said Monday that he has talked with engineers with First Energy, which owns the poles, regarding the mechanics of hanging the 2-foot by 3-foot banners from the poles.

First Energy, owner of electric provider Penn Power, initially refused to allow the banners to be hung from the poles because of possible equipment failure. But officials at First Energy’s Akron office a few weeks ago relented and said the military banners would be permitted.

Zinkhann said that First Energy said it would send engineers to the borough after the holiday season to assess the poles on Main Street and determine whether they are structurally sound enough to safely support the poles.

“I’m hoping they will replace them if they’re (in poor repair,)” Zinkhann said.

He said First Energy officials told him a small fee would be charged to use each pole for the banners. That would be on top of the $80 fee to have the banners made, and to buy the brackets they will hang from.

Zinkhann said First Energy officials told him he could apply for a grant to cover the pole fees. Zinkhann said a small donation from the county Tourism and Convention Bureau could help pay the pole fees.

Jack Cohen, president of the bureau, also told Zinkhann his office would help with marketing the banner project.

Zinkhann said dozens of residents have told him of their approval of the banner project, including Evans City American Legion members and Marines he talked with over the past few days while helping the Toys for Tots program.

“Everybody just loves it,” Zinkhann said.

Because the program is slated to begin on Memorial Day, Zinkhann said there is plenty of time for residents to fill out applications for banners.

He said the program is open to all veterans, living or deceased.

Although Evans City will be the first municipality in Butler County to hang the banners, Zinkhann said he hopes others follow suit.

“I hope it’s a doorstep program,” Zinkhann said.

More information on Evans City’s military banner program is available at the project website, www.troopbanners.com/evanscity.