Arnold Considers Garage Sale Sign Permits

The Arnold City Council wants residents to be more responsible in using, and removing, garage sales signs throughout the city.

People use tape to attach the signs to $15,000 light poles, which ruins the poles, said Ward 2 Councilman Bill Moritz during the council’s work session on July 12 at . And people rarely remove their signs after the event.

People who ruin a city light pole face destruction of public property charges. The wayward signs create a messy and uncared-for atmosphere within the city.

“We need people to stop taping the signs to expensive light poles and we need people to remove the signs in a timely manner,” Moritz said.

The signs have been a problem for previous Arnold elected officials, Mayor Ron Counts said.

While most garage sales signs provide an address, Police Chief Robert Shockey said his officers must see the homeowner post to the signs to charge them with an offense.

“The children could have put the signs (on the light poles) or someone could have moved it,” Shockey said. A judge will throw out a case if there is a lack of evidence.

To resolve the issue, Ward 3 Councilman Phil Amato suggested the council use the Mayor’s newsletter to educate people about the sign issues.

“We run the special section a couple of times then we inform the residents that the next step is creating an ordinance regulating garage sales signs,” Amato said.

Council members suggested no fees for garage sales signs, residents could apply through the city’s website and their garage sales could be prominently posted on the website.

The registration process could further educate residents on proper use and removal of garage sales signs and provide a paper trail for law enforcement.

The City of Fairview Heights has such an ordinance and requires residents use a specific sign-approved by the city-for garage sales, Arnold Community Development Director Mary Holden said to councilmen during the July 12 work session.

Fairview Heights provides the signs free to its residents at the cost of the city budget, Holden said.

The Arnold City Council did not say when they would vote on the new ordinance. The garage sale signs special section will appear within the next two Mayor’s newsletters.