After collecting feedback from the public, the Carroll City Council has voted to remove the yellow signage found throughout the downtown business district. At the council’s Feb. 13 meeting, city officials considered a request to have the signs removed due to concerns about their condition and dated appearance. A resolution to remove the signs failed. However, the council indicated they would be willing to take it up again after giving the public time to provide feedback. Matt Meiners, the Chamber’s economic vitality director, says they reached out to downtown businesses asking if they’d like the signs to remain as they are.
Meiners adds they also received five responses by email, and all five favored having the signs removed. He notes the survey did not specifically ask respondents for their reasoning, but some did provide that information.
Interim City Manager Jeff Cayler says city hall also received some feedback from the public, and those responses reflected the Chamber’s data.
Because the issue had been voted on at the previous meeting, the city council can bring it back for reconsideration by one of the members that previously voted against it. A motion from At-Large Councilmember LaVern Dirkx to do just that passed 5-1, with Ward 1 Councilman Tom Bordenaro being the sole nay vote. The motion to remove the signs passed 4-2, with Ward 3 Councilman Kyle Bauer and Bordenaro opposed. City officials directed staff to begin planning for the removal of the dozens of signs that have marked downtown for nearly 20 years.
