The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
First things first. The Commemorative Air Force unit that has their headquarters at Smartt Field is having a Hangar Dance there featuring “Big Band” music on Saturday, September 16 from 7-11 p.m. Doors open at 6. Call 636-250-4515 for info and tickets. It should be a good time for those of us who like the “Big Band” sound.
If you’re thinking I’m going to rant about you not being to vote on how your city is run, I’m going to disappoint you. Our mayor has decided that you should not vote and four members of the council agreed and denied you the vote. It is now a dead issue. I just hope you remember her and the councilmen who denied you this privilege when election time rolls around. ‘Nuff said.
You have to wonder if we really have a sign ordinance. There is a truck parked along Veterans Memorial Drive in the vicinity of Mr. Steak that advertises apartments in St. Peters. There is a truck on Droste Road advertising five-dollar pizza. Both are in violation of the ordinance that prohibits such displays.
Here are the paragraphs pertaining to this “not allowed” signage:
(L) All portable signs, except as otherwise provided. Portable signs shall include, but are not limited to, signs which are mounted, attached, or painted on trailers, boats or vehicles when used as additional signage on or near the business premises. Business vehicles displaying signage or advertising shall be parked in an assigned parking space which is not immediately adjacent to a street frontage; (PIZZA)
(M) Signs attached to, suspended from or painted on any vehicle which is regularly parked on any street or private property when one of the purposes of so locating such vehicle is to display, demonstrate, and advertise or attract the attention of the public: (APARTMENTS IN ST. PETERS)
The truck touting the apartments has been there for months. Is there a penalty for these eyesores, or does anyone really care? I know the head of code enforcement cares, but he is only one person. Perhaps the rest of his department should see to it that such infractions are corrected without waiting for a resident to complain. There are signs all over town in the rights-of-way that they must drive past every day. Realtors who place a sign is within eight feet of the curb are probably in violation. If it is in the grass between the street and the sidewalk, it is almost surely in violation.
It is of little cultural value to place artwork in parts of our city if they have to compete with this trashy image. Few will notice the art, but nearly all will remember the eyesores.
Of course, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
