Political Signs, Ordinance Questions Addressed

For weeks, the the sides of road and lawns throughout White Lake and Highland townships have been decorated with a variety of political signs. They range in shape, sizes and placement - something that has irked some candidates and residents.

The current ordinance in White Lake states political signs can't have a surface area of more than sixteen square feet per sign, as measured on one side of a two-sided sign. In addition, signs can't go up more than forty-five days prior to a primary election, and must be removed within five days after the election.

In White Lake, clerk candidate Laura Vogel has been vocal on White Lake-Highland Patch with her opinion about the political sign ordiance and perceived lack of enforcement.

"...Ordinances are written to be enforced," Vogel wrote on White Lake-Highland Patch. "If it's "nitpicking" then the ordinance should be repealed rather than having a blind eye turned. Perhaps, indeed, the solution that Commerce Townshio chose is the best: to simply have no ordinance at all that pertains to political signs."

White Lake Planning Director Sean O'Neil said enforcement is being done, but on a priority basis. For example, signs at intersections that block sight lines are the first to be removed.

O'Neil said he's made calls to candidates whose signs present a safety hazard, but other signs that violate size restrictions or other aspects of the ordinance are a low priority.

"What makes enforcing this ordinance very difficult is the sheer volume of signs around the township," O'Neil said. "We have one ordinance officer and I feel that his time is better spent working on issues such as blight, junk vehicles, property maintenance, and other ordinance complaints and violations for the residents of White Lake.

There has been talk about the constitutionality of the current White Lake ordinance. According to township attorney Greg Need, there are portions of the ordinance that are of questionable constitutionality, "As we all know, free speech is protected by the constitution. The township attorney and I will be working with the Township Board to address these issues," O'Neil said.

Political signs present a temporary problem during election season, but it's important to keep things in perspective and understand the difficulty in enforcing the ordinance, O'Neil said.

"To send candidates violations or tickets for sign locations is nearly impossible because we cannot prove that they (or their volunteers) actually placed the signs and it is the responsibility of the property owner to comply with the sign regulations," he said. "Further, we have had instances where people have been seen moving candidates signs to locations or areas where they are not permitted to cause that candidate grief or draw the ire of the public."

"These political signs are temporary and appear for an approximate 45 day period every four years. We need to take this all into consideration."

In Highland, one resident reported issues with signs being taken from lawns in neighborhoods.

On the White Lake-Highland Patch Facebook Page, Roberta Dermody wrote, "It's too bad some people have to resort to stealing Highland Treasurer's signs out of front yards. Whether you like the candidate or not it is not your right to do that."

Love them or hate them, how do you feel about political signs?