The word "sign" has many different meanings. You can be asked to sign onto something, sign off on a project, or sign away your rights. You can receive a sign or know your sign. You can learn to sign, give a sign (no, not the one you use out on West State Street!) or put up a sign. You’ve been told to keep off the grass, wear your shirt and shoes, not to sit on the wet paint, and to have a nice day. We are bombarded with signs of all kinds. Some days it’s just too much for the senses.

The intent of the City of Alliance Sign Ordinance, enacted by City Council in 1997, was to relieve some of that stress. Codified Ordinance Chapter 1171 states the sign regulations control the type, design, size and location of signs within the city. The intent of the regulation is to promote attractive, high value residential districts, to enable you to find what you want to buy, to reduce distractions and obstructions for motorists, and to improve the image of the city. In other words, all that mess is unsightly and unsafe. You don’t have time to read one sign before another one is in your face. Signs can be helpful, but out of control, illegal signs can confuse, clutter, and cause problems for everyone.

Illegal signs are removed from our streets by William Hawley, the City of Alliance Zoning Inspector. After Bill removes the sign, it is either thrown away in the case of a paper sign, or taken to the city’s Street Department for pickup by the errant sign owner. It is considered to be the responsibility of the person wishing to place a sign to find out what the regulations are governing their particular sign.

Most sign violations are for putting up signage without a permit or placing signs in the road right-of-way or on utility poles. We’ve all seen the "lose weight, come to my garage sale, e-fire your boss" signs plastered on the utility poles. Another source of problems for motorists are the real estate and auction signs that are illegally placed at major intersections, again in the road right-of-way. The line of sight at some intersections here in the city is bad enough without the obstruction of an illegal sign.

Penalties for violating the Sign Ordinance can range from twenty-five to five hundred dollars a day, depending on the offense. In most cases, verbal notification of the violation is given and the offender is offered an opportunity to correct the situation. A written violation is sent if the situation is not corrected. Repeat offenders who have been warned over and over again may find themselves in court. In those cases, the Zoning Inspector will take pictures of the offending signs and keep detailed documentation of the opportunities the offender has had to remove the sign.

It’s really pretty simple. If you want to put up a sign of any kind and don’t know the rules, just call Bill at 330-823-5122 and ask him. Keep in mind that all businesses have to get a permit for a sign of any kind. That includes pole signs, banners, wall, and temporary signs. It’s just a sign of the times.