Board Discusses Signs But Ordinance Already Exists

A sharp-eyed Ward Three resident has pointed out an ordinance that the board of aldermen and city staff didn't know existed—but had been talking about adding to the city's ordinances.

At every meeting of the board of aldermen since Dec. 6, discussion has arisen about holiday signs not being permitted in Lake Saint Louis. The first mention was about a Thanksgiving sign featuring a turkey that said, "Eat More Beef." At that time, the board was discussing a new ordinance that would set guidelines for permissable termporary promotional banners, signs and balloons at city businesses.

The discussion arose again at the Jan. 3 meeting. During the public work session, alderman Harry Slyman brought up the issue of what is permitted and what is not. "I’m still somewhat confused," Slyman said. "If a certain activity is not in the ordinance, is it automatically not approvable?”

Slyman went on to comment on the costs involved if a resident issued a citation for ordinance violation decided to file a lawsuit. "It’s expensive. It takes up our time and our attorney’s time. It’s not clear to the public if they are in violation of an ordinance. We would like to avoid lawsuits."

City Administrator Paul Markworth talked about the nature of the city's sign ordinances. "In the past, codes were written as to what was prohibited. Now, we write codes as what is permitted, not what is prohibited."

"We know holiday signs are an issue," Markworth said.

"No one here would say you couldn’t put up holiday signs," Ward One Alderman Ralph Sidebottom said.

"Then we need to change it [the code]," Mayor Mike Potter said.

Ward Three Alderman George Rich suggested that the board look at any ordinance changes needed to allow holiday signs, and he talked about that in his ward newsletter, sent out the following day:

"In general, if our code doesn’t allow something, it is prohibited.  (That is also state law!)  We asked staff to bring those areas to the BOA’s attention and we’ll try to make them clearer.  For example; Holiday signs are not mentioned as allowable so therefore they are prohibited . . . "

Rich received a great deal of feedback from residents in his ward, and on Jan. 9, he sent out this e-mail:

"I was wrong!  Some smart, enterprising reader/citizen took the time to go on-line, look up the city codes, and found a section on signs that states Holiday signs are allowed.  I thank that gentleman.  Here is the section:

'Section 430.230:Sign Classifications (Permitted and Prohibited)

A.  Residential Districts.

1.  Signs permitted in residential districts shall include the following signs: real estate for sale, subdivision monuments, political, civic activity, decorative displays, holiday signs, garage sales, special announcements (such as "Happy Birthday" signs), name plates and historic markers.

2.  All signs not listed above are prohibited in residential districts.  Signs in addition to those listed above may be permitted in Planned Residential and Planned Development Districts.'"

Rich went on to say that he promised to read the entire 25-page sign ordinance during his vacation as penance.