City officials warn against code violations

Tribune Photo/Michael Glover A utility pole at the intersection of Third Street and Margrave in Fort Scott is riddled with nails and staples from signs posted by area residents.

By Michael Glover

The Fort Scott Tribune

As the garage and yard sale season fast approaches, the city codes department advises not to post homemade signs on utility poles or it could mean a codes violation.

Not only is it illegal to post signs on electric poles but it's a codes violation if the sign is posted on a sandwich board or a saw horse and located within the "site triangle" that surrounds the pole.

In other words, no sign can be attached to a tree or utility pole, whether on public or private property, according to the ordinance. However, signs can be posted in front yards on private property, such as on a stake into the ground.

"We just want to put out a friendly reminder that it's a codes violation," said codes officer Andrea Ramm.

All city departments will be on the look out for posted signs. If a sign is seized, the codes department will attempt to make contact with the owner by sending a letter informing them of the ordinance.

"We'll send a letter out reminding them that it's against the ordinance and if it happens the future a citation will be issued," Ramm said.

The codes department has only a couple signs that have been confiscated recently, she said.

The ordinance was enacted in 1988-89, but hasn't been enforced until last year. The city started enforcing the ordinance because sometimes the signs, which people left posted well-past the date of what they were announcing. On occasion, the signs would blow off and contribute to the trash problem around town. Also, it's a safety issue when motorists slow down or stop in intersections or streets to look at the posted signs.

Also, Ramm said the Public Works department wanted her to advise residents against sweeping leaves and grass clippings into street gutters.

"It's creating a big problem for drainage," Ramm said. "They're seeing it a little bit more and more."

Heavy rains this month has caused water to fill into the streets because the debris is pushing the water out of the gutters.

Ramm said sweeping debris into the gutters is a codes violation.