Vehicle signs again subject of sign ordinance debate at city council meeting

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, 11 p.m. — The first reading of a revision of the city’s sign ordinance seemed to create as many questions as it solved at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Bardstown City Council.

Larry Green, assistant city administrator for the City of Bardstown, discusses the proposed sign ordinance changes.

The changes to the much-debated sign ordinance were the result of an agreement reached at a July 29th special meeting of the Joint City-County Planning Commission, during which Mayor Bill Sheckles agreed that the city would enact some changes in the sign ordinance in order clarify its language — the goal of which was to allow administration of the ordinance by the planning commission staff.

Tuesday’s draft focused on clarifying the definition of a temporary sign, and the discussion of the changes prompted numerous questions from the council.

The revision would prohibit permanent rooftop vehicle signs, but exempt rooftop signs used by pizza delivery drivers and cab drivers. Rooftop signs would be allowed, but they would be considered temporary signs.

Councilman John Royalty said it seemed unfair to allow national chains to use signs, but not a local mom-and-pop business. Councilman Joe Buckman asked what would happen if a salad-to-go business located in Bardstown and wanted a rooftop sign for their delivery drivers?

Councilman Roland Williams gestures while discussing the sign ordinance.

Larry Green, assistant city administrator, told the council the changes are stop-gap measures for an ordinance that will be addressed by the sign ordinance committee in a comprehensive review that will begin meeting this week. Buckman suggested that if the measure is just a temporary change, why not table it until the committee completes its work?

Green said that it is necessary to look at the sign ordinance’s intent and what the community wants to accomplish regarding signs, their size and placement. The committee will review the ordinance, which will eventually become part of the city-county zoning regulations.

Councilman Tommy Reed, who arrived at the meeting during this discussion, said that the sign committee will look at how signs have changed in the 21st Century. LED signs weren’t an issue when the sign ordinance was created. “We’re basically going to look at things that weren’t prevalent or not in existence in 1994,” he said.

Reed said his goal for the sign ordinance is to allow people to advertise their business and for the ordinance to be be equal and fair to everyone.

Jeff Mills shows the council the full page newspaper ad highlighting changes to the city’s cable TV lineup.

Buckman withdrew his motion to table the ordinance and it passed first reading without a vote by the individual council members.

FIRE DEPT. ORDINANCE UPDATE. The council gave its final approval of changes to update the existing fire department ordinance. The changes set reimbursement rates for fire department responses and services for businesses and individuals who are from outside the community. The move will allow the fire department to recoup its costs for responding to fires, vehicle fires, hazmat situations, extrication and other services. People who live in the city’s fire protection district and that of the Bardstown-Nelson County Volunteer Fire Department would not be charged the fees.

SEC CABLE CHANNEL. Jeff Mills, city electrical engineer, said the city’s cable TV system will add the SEC network and make other changes in its lineup effective Thursday morning, Aug. 14. Subscribers who have TV cable boxes will need to take no action. Subscribers who have digital cable-ready TVs will need to use their menu settings to have the TV re-scan the cable channels in order to pick up the new channels. Anyone with problems or questions may call City Hall for assistance, (502) 348-5947.

In other business, the council:

— approved revisions to the city’s ordinances that deal with the mayor’s office and how the mayor pro tem is selected;

— approved first reading that will place additional tracts in the Nelson County Industrial Park under I-2 zoning;

— approved a request to use city streets for the New Life Center 5k Run on Nov. 27;

— approved a request to close the usual city streets for the Bardstown Arts, Crafts & Antiques Fair, including a request to close Fifth Street between Flaget and Broadway on Friday evening;

— and approved the appointment of Sheila Osborne to the Bardstown Convention-Nelson County Tourist & Convention Commission. Osborne works at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center.

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