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Our say: Effort to remove illegal signs gains momentum There's nothing new about public annoyance with illegal roadside signs. But the issue finally seems to have the attention of the County Council. Earlier this month, County Councilman Ed Reilly drafted a bill to ban signs on utility poles, trees and stoplights, and to clarify rules on advertising signs. We're not convinced that tweaking existing laws will decrease the number of illegal signs, but we appreciate the effort. The larger problem: Many signs are on state road rights of way, where the county has no jurisdiction. State Highway Administration officials say that their maintenance workers remove the signs when they see them - but a glance along state roads shows that the workers don't make this a priority. And as this problem is not limited to Anne Arundel County, state officials will be reluctant to assume a statewide obligation. Our solution: Ask the state to give the county authority to remove illegal signs on state rights of way. An SHA spokesman indicated that this would be no problem. Declare the signs litter, allowing any citizen to remove them. There would be no shortage of volunteers. Increase the fine for violations. It's not as if those who commit this violation are hard to find - they put their phone numbers on the signs. The council and the county executive are considering all of these steps. County Executive John R. Leopold has also deployed jail inmates to pick up illegal signs. They're removed nearly 1,200 so far. It is a good start, and we appreciate Mr. Leopold's attention to this quality-of-life issue. --- BAD NEWS - Give credit to the county Health Department: It does a good job notifying the public of sewage spills. American Rivers, a nonprofit organization that has done an evaluation of sewage spill notification efforts in 11 states, says the county is already doing things it recommends. Last year the Health Department launched an e-mail alert system for anyone interested in learning about river and creek closings. That followed complaints from some residents that notification was inadequate. Now if the county could only get such favorable notice for averting sewage spills. Published 08/29/07, Copyright © 2008 Maryland Gazette, Glen Burnie, Md. | ||
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