Council: No more Illegal signs

Councilman Joe Hardy is focusing on a City beautification project to address the number of illegal signs that litter the streets of Abbeville. He, along with support from the Abbeville City Council, Mayor and Councilman-at-Large Francis Plaisance, plan to address the problem by first removing the signs, then enforcing the city ordinance that prohibits their placement in City right-of-ways.

In the regular meeting of the Abbeville City Council Tuesday, Hardy showed the council and Mayor a photograph at the intersection of Hwy. 167 and Veteran’s Memorial Drive, where prohibited signs that advertise businesses, events and merchandise have accumulated over the years. Hardy and Plaisance have enlisted the help of Keep Abbeville Beautiful to inform the public that these signs are illegal and will be removed.

“We will be taking them down starting tomorrow (Wednesday) morning and keep doing it until they’re all gone,” stated Clay Menard, public works superintendent.

Mayor Mark Piazza explained the City’s existing ordinance prohibits any sign placed in a public right-of-way, which includes signs staked into the grass at intersections, as well as signs that are stapled or nailed to City telephone poles. He said these signs are not only unsightly, but pose a problem when city employees have to mow the grass areas.

“They’re unsightly and they’re illegal,” Councilman Plaisance stressed. He said the street maintenance department will begin to remove the signs starting Wednesday, and KAB volunteers will call the phone numbers posted on the signs, explaining why they removed the signs.

The City’s existing ordinance states that a penalty for posting such signs or advertisements shall be subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), for a first offense, or not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00), nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), for all subsequent offenses, together with all cost incidental thereto, including the cost of any litter abatement necessitated by said action.

The council then agreed to start a policy where non-profit organizations and other event organizers will have to receive permission from the council to place a banner advertising their event. The council will discuss signs at their next meeting, July 21, 2009.

In addition to discussing illegal signs, the Abbeville City Council also heard from bond agent Jason Ackers, who explained a $760,000 forgiveness loan issued to the city for sewage treatment plant repairs, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was passed by President Barack Obama.

Ackers explained the City will undergo a series of steps and stipulations for receiving the money debt-free and interest-free to be used for sewer improvement projects. Ackers said the loan is virtually “something for almost nothing.” Stipulations for receiving the money include complying with the “Buy American” provision, requiring the City to buy American steel, iron, or other recommended materials for the project, and complying with Davis-Bacon Wage requirements.

Finally, Ackers added there will be more stimulus funds available in the future for water plant improvements.

Mayor Piazza told the council that he heard about the availability of funds by attending a conference in Baton Rouge, and stressed the importance of his presence at the conference to receive the funds.

“If I would not have attended that conference, I wouldn’t have even known about it,” he said.

In other business the Council approved:

Leasing to Acadiana Aviation LLC. at the Chris Crusta Memorial Airport for a pilot training academy

Resolution for the Mayor to sign and submit all necessary documents in connection with a $600,000 LCDBG grant for street improvements in the City

Water line extension on Rodeo Road for The Havens of Abbeville

The re-appointment of Roland Simon to the Fire & Police Civil Service Board

The surplus of Abbeville Police unit 378, which is in a state of disrepair

Partial payment for phase III for repairs at the water treatment plant

Awarded bid for three new police units at a cost of $96,668 in grant funds

Awarded highest bidder for vehicle acquired by Abbeville Police

Accepted the completion of Phase I of the Mount Carmel Heights drainage improvement project