City decides not to enforce ordinance on political signs

The city of Rockdale sent letters to five property owners telling them they were in violation of a city zoning ordinance concerning political signs.

The signs in question date back to the Nov. 3 election and should have been removed in November of last year in accordance with the city ordinance.

The letters were dated May 28 and told the property owners they were in violation of Article 14.02, Section 14.02.123, (n) which states in part that signs need to be removed within 10 days after the general or runoff elections to which the signs pertain.

“There has been a lot of concern over five letters sent to area landowners for maintaining November election signs past the 10-day post-election deadline for removal. This is an ordinance in the city’s sign ordinance.” said City Manager Barbara Holly in an email.

“The letters were sent in response to citizen complaints received by the ity. The letters did not address flags, political commentary, (such as I support whomever or whatever cause), but were limited solely to election signs. However, because political speech is the highest form of protected speech in America, the city will not be enforcing this provision in our ordinance, unless the sign is located in the public right-of-way,” she wrote.