Sign location being contested in Crawford
The Crawford board of trustees met on Jan. 16 for their regularly scheduled work session.
Chris Brown, a former Crawford trustee who lives on the corner of E Street and Highway 92, asked the board why permission was granted for a sign promoting the Needlerock Family Health Clinic, Crawford School and the cemetery to be placed against his fence.
"Why? Why there? Why not at Pioneer Park when you're coming into town where you can go right up Elm to [the clinic] or D and 92 by the Methodist Church?" Brown asked.
He doesn't believe the location by his property "makes any sense" and could lower his property's value and block his view. Brown noted the sign would be on town property, but the town has not taken care of it since he has lived there.
Bruce Bair, public works director, explained that the town council had decided to place the sign on E Street because traffic coming on the highway would know to turn there and would see the clinic as they went up the street.
Brown said Jenny Mitchell has not returned his phone messages.
"I think where the sign will be is still within the width of State Highway 92," Bair said. Even the sidewalk in front of Brown's house is part of the highway right of way. CDOT has approved the location by the highway.
Trustee Christie Young stated Jenny Mitchell needs to be at the council meeting to discuss the matter. She was not present on Jan. 16. If the state has to re-approve a new location for the sign, "it's not within our authority," Young said.
"When I met with CDOT and Jenny," Bair said, "it was decided to put the sign there. But neither Jenny, Tim {Mitchell] nor CDOT was opposed to putting it on Elm."
Bair continued, "CDOT's objection to the sign being on the other side of the street was, one, visibility and, two, there's a stop sign there."
Town clerk Jackie Savage read the minutes from the June 6 council meeting. The trustees approved the proposed location by a unanimous vote and designated the sign's measurements.
"As far as the visibility issues, there is a standard for the height on the signs. The base of the sign cannot be any lower than 6-1/2 feet. If you are in a vehicle ... your vision isn't going to be impeded by the sign," Bair said. "It's proposed to be on the east side of E Street by the fire hydrant."
Brown said, "You approved it on her behalf but you didn't take into consideration how we would feel."
Trustee Larry Kontour said, "We didn't think about it."
This item is on the Feb. 6 agenda. The town clerk will notify Chris Brown and Jenny Mitchell to attend the council meeting.