Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 13 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Focus placed on illegal signs
Published Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Selma officers are trying to make signs placed on public property and on power poles a thing of the past in the city.
Code enforcement officers and Selma police are cracking down on the illegal sign posting.
“We are going to be enforcing the ordinance that states it is illegal to place signs on power poles and city property,” Sgt. Doug Stewart said. “That means any sign placed between the side and the street or on any other city- owned property will be taken down.”
The rule falls under City Ordinance Article 6-91(b). The ordinance states that no sign, billboard or advertising structure can be placed at the intersection of any street that will obstruct the view or on city property.
Authorities said usually this is violated mainly around election times, but they also see signs improperly placed throughout the year.
The officers hoped to get a head start on cleaning up the streets before the special election scheduled tentatively in October for the bond and school board voting.
“Right now there are no fines,” Stewart said. “We are just removing them.”
However a fine can be enforced if the offender violates the ordinance consistently.
For signs that are typically displayed during elections, the only place they can be erected is on private property. If a sign is placed on private property without the owner’s consent, then officers advise the owner to remove the sign and/or report it to them.
Other signs that are larger and typically advertise a business must have a permit before they are set up according to Article 6-79.
“We have already been cleaning up a lot of the illegal signs so hopefully people have noticed,” Stewart said. “We are going to keep taking them down until they stop or we issue fines.”
The signs have particularly irked members of the Selma City Council.
Council member Dr. Monica Newton has, at times, brought to meetings signs she found posted illegally and pulled up.
“Something has to be done about this,” she said recently. “These are ugly.”
During last week’s council meeting, council members asked Mayor George Evans to make cleaning up the signs a priority.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by realdeal2 (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The more I have thought about this the more it bothers me. You people blame the aching throat and sniffles for having the flu. But it is the other way around, you have the sniffles and aching throat BECAUSE you have the flu. You have this problem because of the economy being in the toilet. And now you are going to squash the little man's ability to try and make some money. Can't you spend your time finding a possible cure for the problem instead of beating up the symptoms of the problem?
I know of people selling items because their mate has been put out of their job by this economy. Find the problem! Fix the problem to the best of your ability and stop choking the little guy in the name of your snobbish "save Selma" campaign.
Take care of the people and they will take care of you!
Remember Marie Antoinette?
Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
realdeal2:..........?........... popdukes12
Posted by me (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
realdeal - it was too early for me to read something out of left field.
Posted by Bg (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Realdeal2 .... ? ...... please explain
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think realdeal must have the flu with a 105 temp him/herself?!?!? Good job Police, cleanup this town!!! Keep burning those crackhouses!!!
Posted by imclean (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Campaign signs, temporary sales signs, and trashy signs are not needed on the right of ways. Lets be careful with other signs put up by the property owners on the "right of ways" which the City or State do not use. "Right of Ways" and "Easements" are just what the names state. In questionable situations the City should hesitate and evaluate before they put us in anymore lawsuits.
Posted by mukdad_1578 (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The only signs the city counsel need to worry about are the signs of unemployment going down. Help bring jobs to the community so we can see the best sign ever taken down.
Posted by nanam (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The City needs to look at their own signs downtown. Their 2 hr. parking signs read that it's a $2.00 fine, but when you pay it it's a $5.00 fine.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of these same old building owners aren't going to do anything more than they're forced to. They want new businesses to locate downtown, but aren't doing anything cosmetically or structurally to warrant a new business to rent it out. Where are the choices? Then when there is a rare spot, they want to charge you an excessive amount. It makes no sense.
Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
City Ordinance Article 06-91 is more than ample to protect against the infractions spelled out in this article. It was taken from the sign ordinances of four class five cities (Auburn, Opelika,Selma, etc.) and fitted to accommodate some existing signage in Selma that would have been in violation. It's a good law that took two days to compile, one day to type, and three public hearings before the council passed it in '91. popdukes12
Posted by bamafan (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
realdeal2, this is a step toward bringing industries or jobs to the city, IT HAS TO BE CLEANED UP FIRST!!!
And they are trying to do that, so stop your moaning, and let them!!!
Posted by catchem (anonymous) on June 19, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a representative of several owners of property on Water Ave. I would like to express several things which have hampered some of the development and face lifting of buildings on Water Ave. During one repair of a facade, Patti Sexton of the Community Development stopped our renovation stating she wanted the original type of materials (metal) used instead of a lighter weight molded lighter weight plastic. She threatened our contractor with being arrested if he didn't do as she directed. Finding a craftsman and the material has left that project uncompleted. Being put on the National Register of Historic Districts against the wishes of certain property owners has forced the cost of property insurances way up, thus increasing the rental rates. The rental rates went up after the Historical designation, because historic buildings have to be put back in the original historic state it was in before any damages. One of these buildings rents go entirely towards the insurance permium, but the rental rate charged is still in similar square footage rates as other buildings in the community. Another thing is that only a hand full of the major property owners on Water Ave. have received invitations to any decision making policy by the City. As usual the City Community Development has acted like irresponsible bullys by not even contacting the two private property owners, that I can speak on the behalf of on the 1100 Block of Water Ave., about the Citys intentions of a River Walk on or through the private owners properties. When one of these Community Development officials was asked if they had acquired permission of the property owners, their statement to a City Councilman was that was a small issue that they would deal with later. Maybe now some of you can understand what a few of the property owners, who have paid dearly for their property, have to deal with. Our hats go off to the St. James, Grumbles, Harmony Building, The Selma Times Journal, and any others who have stuck it out on Water Ave. for the past 9 years, because it isn't cheap.
Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on June 19, 2009 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Catchem; It may be a good idea to cut & paste parts of that post to the riverwalk article also. I am also concerned about the river bank behind those building. If you remember, the soapstone bank along the old landing was separating and gushing water when we filled in the old landing with bricks. I remember the corpe of engineers making several suggestions to stabilize that bank. popdukes12
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)