Industry News

Sign Talk Dominates Des Moines City Council Meeting

Dec. 5, 2011 – Des Moines, Iowa - It could have easily been billed as “sign night” when the Des Moines City Council got together on Monday. Council members searched for ways to rid city streets of illegal signs that are constantly stuck in rights of way —the ones that offer to buy junk cars or houses from people who are upside down on their mortgage, among various others.

“This visual pollution of these signs detracts from our community character,” south-side neighborhood leader Mel Pins told the council. “It’s kind of the first crack in the broken-window theory of urban planning.” The illegal advertising also unfairly competes with businesses that play by the rules and observe city sign ordinances, Pins argued.

Mike Swift, who is in the auto salvage business in Des Moines, told the council that he routinely plucks illegal signs from rights of way. He estimated that he has collect 1,000 of the illegal signs in recent years.
“I do not have a problem with legal signs, but I have a problem with illegal signs,” Swift said. Swift complies with sign regulations for his business, and he wants the city to step up enforcement on illegal signs, he said. “This is a continuing battle,” Councilman Brian Meyer said.

Read the Story http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/12/05/sign-talk-dominates-des-moines-city-council-meeting/

Previous “sign” article http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111205/NEWS10/312050017/-1/gallery_array/Des-Moines-council-target-signs-littering-roadways