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Editorial: New
Coweta County Sign Ordinance
Beware! The Coweta County Sign enforcement officers are on the prowl, and if you aren't looking, they might snatch the "for sale" sign right from your yard. County commissioner Paul Poole says he's "sorry, but we don't know who pulled out the signs and carried them to the dump, or whether or not they were in fact on county right-of-way." True enough, we can't prove that it was any one from the county that removed the signs. But why are they disappearing all of a sudden? Perhaps it was the homeowner who wanted his or her house sold, better to have them laying at the dump than displayed in the yard where they would serve their intended purpose. Also, it's a remarkable coincidence that all of the missing signs wind up in the same place, at the county recycling facility. The sign enforcement officers are not surveyors. Commissioner Poole admits that they do not measure from any benchmark. They have no way to determine where the right-of way ends and where the yard begins. They simply take the signs, throw them on a truck, and take them to the dump. No citation, no notice, no communication with anyone. When I suggested that if the sign inadvertently touched the right-of-way that the county workers simply move the signs back onto the yard, Mr. Poole became indignant and said it wasn't the county's responsibility. He seems to think that the public at large is better served by using county wages, fuel, and resource to carry the signs to the dump to have them dealt with as trash that must be handled by the county's environmental department. Perhaps it would be easier if they could simply call the number on the sign and ask the person who answers to please move the sign back on to the yard, respecting the "ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility" of the owner of the sign. Why not call commissioner Poole and ask him to have the right-of-way in front of your house maintained. Seems like if they can snatch your sign because they own the property, they should also properly maintain it, after all, it's their property. Our late County attorney Mitch Powell correctly told me that any sign in the right-of-way can be taken to the dump. However, over zealous enforcement officers, or ever WATER METER READERS could take anything to the extreme. If a security sign is on your mailbox, the possibility exists for it to be uprooted and taken to the recycling center. Mr. Powell also rightfully said that individuals have a right to post a sign on their own property. Seems that our Mr. Poole does not agree that the First Amendment is as important as the county attorney, as he stated to me that it's not a significant issue to him if county employees MIGHT be taking constitutionally protected signs from private property.. Mr. Poole also appears to me to be a firm believer in cronyism. When I complained about the actions of county employees, he said that he knew them well and didn't know me, so in effect he called them honest and me a liar, with extreme prejudice, as he told me he was told that I was rude to a county employee. No Mr. Poole, I am not a liar, I am a constituent. And I do get a bit upset when I am told that the county officials charged with enforcement of the sign ordinances are not sufficiently versed in the code to address questions about it. How is it possible to effectively enforce a code that you do not understand? Did you forget that you are supposed to represent us, the electorate of your district, and not your good old boy and gal buddies with county jobs? I don't remember seeing in your election materials that you promised to protect the workers of the county from any accountability for their actions. Mr. Poole, perhaps you are getting to know your cronies too well, and maybe you should consider spending more time listening to your constituents. It is possible that the county had acted wrongfully, and a more appropriate response to me might have been that you would look into this matter and get all of the facts before reaching a conclusion. Instead, you told me (a constituent) that you would not listen to me anymore. Read the quotes above sir, one of the values of your political party is that "the most effective government is government closest to the people." If you think that County Sign Enforcement officers should stay off of your private property, call the following numbers: Paul Poole, Commissioner 1st District 404-714-0280 Mr. Theron Gay, County administrator, was very receptive to my concerns, and says that he is always ready and willing to help Coweta citizens. He is a good man in the position of enforcing the law, and is a dedicated public servant! Thanks for your patience and attention Mr. Gay! Theron Gay, County Administrator 770-254-2601 "This is an editorial opinion by one individual and one individual only, and does not reflect the position of ERA United Realty, Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc. or any other business entity. Rebuttals are welcome"
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