Jeannette looks to crack down on 'garbage signs' attached to utility poles

Jeannette’s code enforcement officer is going to start targeting signs attached to utility poles through the city’s zoning ordinance.

Bill Whetzel said he has a letter drafted that can be sent to violators, if he can figure out who is responsible for the signs.

“Some don’t have any kind of an address or a phone number,” he said. “There’s one … it just says ‘Barber School?’”

Mayor Curtis Antoniak has been concerned about what he described Tuesday as “garbage signs” affixed to utility poles, many of which are advertisements.

“It makes our town look terrible,” he said.

Solicitor Tim Witt said the city can use the zoning ordinance to regulate signs that are in the public right-of-way and on utility poles. Officials cannot discriminate against the type of sign and enforcement can become an issue if they can’t figure out who is responsible.

“Some of them are easy because you know whose sign they are,” he said.

Notice would have to be provided to the appropriate sign owner before anything is removed.

“It’s not going to solve everything overnight,” Witt said.

Whetzel has taken photographs of some of the signs and noted that some contain phone numbers and company names.

“We can work on getting those letters sent out, I’ll coordinate with Solicitor Witt and we’ll get some things sent out, we’ll get the process started,” he said.

State police helped in getting political signs removed from utility poles in Jeannette and Hempfield after citing Ed Day for violating a state law that prohibits the driving of a nail, tack or metal or hard substance into a utility pole. Day unsuccessfully ran for mayor in Jeannette during the primary and state police said he affixed campaign signs to utility poles and refused to remove them when asked by a trooper, according to summary trial testimony.

He was found guilty at summary trial last month and fined $100 plus costs, totaling $273.75. Day said he planned to appeal the ruling. An appeal had not been filed Wednesday.