County board says signs too big
By Michele Linck Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
ELK POINT, S.D. -- The Union County Board of Commissioners will send letters to anti- and pro-refinery groups informing them that campaign signs in the county cannot exceed 25 square feet.
Union County board chairman Doyle Karpen said Union County State's Attorney Jerry Miller told the commissioners during their meeting Monday morning that the county had received a complaint about signs reading "Vote No Hyperion" painted on 4-foot-by-8-foot plywood and displayed outside of Elk Point city limits. He said a county ordinance limits signs in rural areas to 25 square feet.
Miller said the county ordinance specific to election signs does not limit their size, but he believes the general sign ordinance applies to all signs. The law exempts only "on-site" signs, meaning business signs displayed on the business's property, from the size limit.
Karpen said the commissioners decided they had to act on the complaint and agreed to send a letter to notify Save Union County Ballot Question Committee, whose name appears on the signs. The letter gives the group until May 15 to remove the signs or risk the penalty -- a fine of $100 a day. Karpen didn't know how many signs might be affected.
Ed Cable, co-chairman of Save Union County, a group opposed to the oil refinery proposed by Hyperion Resources, of Dallas, Texas, said he isn't so sure that the ordinance applies to his group's signs. He said they would not remove the signs until they consult the ordinance.
Miller said the commissioners also ordered that the pro-refinery group be advised they must be in compliance, too. Signs within city limits are subject to city laws, which may differ, he said.
Union County board chairman Doyle Karpen said Union County State's Attorney Jerry Miller told the commissioners during their meeting Monday morning that the county had received a complaint about signs reading "Vote No Hyperion" painted on 4-foot-by-8-foot plywood and displayed outside of Elk Point city limits. He said a county ordinance limits signs in rural areas to 25 square feet.
Miller said the county ordinance specific to election signs does not limit their size, but he believes the general sign ordinance applies to all signs. The law exempts only "on-site" signs, meaning business signs displayed on the business's property, from the size limit.
Karpen said the commissioners decided they had to act on the complaint and agreed to send a letter to notify Save Union County Ballot Question Committee, whose name appears on the signs. The letter gives the group until May 15 to remove the signs or risk the penalty -- a fine of $100 a day. Karpen didn't know how many signs might be affected.
Ed Cable, co-chairman of Save Union County, a group opposed to the oil refinery proposed by Hyperion Resources, of Dallas, Texas, said he isn't so sure that the ordinance applies to his group's signs. He said they would not remove the signs until they consult the ordinance.
Miller said the commissioners also ordered that the pro-refinery group be advised they must be in compliance, too. Signs within city limits are subject to city laws, which may differ, he said.
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AnnieO wrote on May 13, 2008 12:13 PM:
What is their Message wrote on May 13, 2008 11:47 AM:
didn't want anti-war signs when we
were in Viet Nam.
What was the perk to start enforcing the
law 30 years later. Mabe it would be
different if they said Stop Illegal Immigration. or Eat More beef or
Fur and Hunting our future. or Stop
Abortion? or Quit Smoking or Drinking and Driving. "
Being Clear wrote on May 13, 2008 10:26 AM:
AnnieO wrote on May 12, 2008 4:05 PM:
The sign issue deals with more than size. It deals with the First Amendment, it deals with political intimidation and pettiness coming out of the county commissioners and the county attorney's office. "
What a great IDEA. wrote on May 12, 2008 1:37 PM:
25 SQUARE FEET, ALSO MUST BE LOW PROFILE, JUST LIKE OTHER PROGRESSIVE CITIES. and NO FREEWAY AD SIGNS AT ALL! "