Some businesses remove banner signs

Cape Girardeau city inspector Tim Morgan has been checking up on banner sign violations and he's not finding any.

"We did visit El Torero and the manager called from Pizza Inn," Morgan said. "When I went back to check at the businesses the signs were gone. I also talked with one manager at Cape La Croix Apartments who thought their signs were grandfathered in."

Managerial personnel from Cape La Croix Apartments said they would take down two banner signs hanging near the entrance to the apartments if needed, and that they would like to be in compliance with the ordinance.

Grandfathering has been Dennis McDonald's argument for keeping his banner up at The Mattress Guys on Kingshighway. McDonald has stated on several occasions his banner should be grandfathered in. However, according to Morgan, no banner sign is eligible for grandfathering. McDonald said his permanent sign will be installed by Monday. McDonald recently served five days of "shock time" for failing to comply with the ordinance. He has a revocation of probation hearing in front of Judge Gary Kamp at 1 p.m. today.

Pizza Inn supervisor Adrienne Collins said they took down their sign after seeing it mentioned in a Southeast Missourian article.

"We were very proactive about the whole thing," Collins said. "When we called the city, we apologized and let them know we had no idea we were in violation of the ordinance."

El Torero on Broadway also removed its banner signs.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson said the ordinance is not meant to be enforced in an extreme manner.

"I've never had any illusions that the Tim Morgans or nuisance abatement officers of the world would be driving around town looking for these signs," Knudtson said. "If they see them or receive complaints, they deal with them in a professional manner with a soft approach and warnings, and that's how I think the citizens want this to be handled."

Knudtson said the city is not the first or only community to ban banner signs.

"I'm proud to drive down Kingshighway and see the nice landscaping and advertising this community's businesses have installed," Knudtson said. "The ordinance is a part of our council's Keep America Beautiful campaign. Before, you'd have some of the banners in good condition, but many were torn and worn out, so this really helps keep our community beautiful."

Morgan said as of Tuesday, there were no outstanding sign ordinance complaints.

jsamons@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 134