 It was noted at last week's council meeting that several new
signs have gone up during the moratorium. Les Last, city of Lincoln
zoning officer, confirmed that those signs already had permits
before the moratorium was put into place.
The past ordinance combined signs and billboards. The new
ordinances would separate the two sets of regulations.
Alderwoman Melody Anderson said that she could not support
extending the moratorium on both signs and billboards. She would
agree to extend the billboard moratorium but cited that there is a
list of businesses needing sign permits.
She also made it clear that she was not satisfied with the
progress made on the ordinances so far. "We're coming up on the
expiration of three months, and we haven't even finished the
billboards yet," she said. "We haven't even discussed this (signs)
yet. At the rate we're going, we won't have it done on Dec. 15."
City attorney Bill Bates said he understood Anderson's concerns
but recalled that it was a particular sign, on Keokuk Street, that
is considered a possible hazard and started this. "We need to do
something with the sign ordinance to protect that from happening
again," he said.
Ordinance chairman Wanda Lee Rohlfs said that it is also
important to look at what other communities have done and to set
regulations that would provide uniform appearance and acceptable
signs that can be placed in the community.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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