Council debates unpermitted sign before approval

     The Monticello City Council voted twice before they came to an agreement concerning a sign issue near the city right-of-way on County Road D-62/W. First St.

     During the June 18 council meeting, an issue that was brought to the council’s attention at the June 4 meeting was again at the forefront. The sign, constructed on two fence posts on property owned by Dave Schoon, was apparently erected without a proper permit. Public Works Director Brant LaGrange informed the council that Schoon had permission to build the fence, per an approved permit, but LaGrange verbally informed him that he could not approve the pole sign.

     Schoon spoke at length with the council on June 4 and was directed to go to the city’s Planning & Zoning Board for a recommendation/approval of the sign. The P&Z met following the June 4 meeting, and City Administrator Doug Herman said while they had some concerns, they voted unanimously to recommend approval of Schoon’s sign, labeling it a pole sign. The sign advertises a DJ business.

     The council’s first vote failed 3-3 to approve of the pole sign per the P&Z’s request. After discussion about penalizing Schoon for constructing a sign without going through the proper channels, the vote passed unanimously to approve the sign and fine Schoon $250 (or the maximum fine allowed by city code) due by July 1.

     Herman said typically a business sign is categorized as a monument sign. Pole signs are permitted when the owner states a case for one over the other. In Schoon’s case, the business is not in a commercial district.

     “It’s more economical to build a pole sign versus a monument sign,” said Council member Dave Goedken.

     As for why the first vote failed, both Butch Pratt and Chris Lux felt that the city wasn’t holding Schoon accountable for not following the rules without a permit.

     “If you don’t enforce the code, we open ourselves to a lot of controversy,” said Pratt. “In the future, you might as well rip up the code book and throw it out.”

     Lux said if Schoon had come to the council or P&Z in the first place, all of these issues could have been ironed out. “He didn’t come to the P&Z, so are we just supposed to allow it (the sign)?” she asked. Lux added she’s not against the sign; she’s against the way it was put up without following proper procedure.

     Herman and Mayor Brian Wolken said, in the long run, the sign wouldn’t impact neighboring properties, or have a negative impact on the area.

     “I feel this is a reasonable approach to the situation to bring it to a resolution,” voiced Herman of the ongoing issue.

     In the future, Council member Johnny Russ asked that if a building/sign permit is denied, it should be put in writing versus a verbal denial.

In other city business:

     • The council approved an agreement between the city and Veloxium (Pasker, Schneiderman, Schneiderman) for installation of fiber Internet lines in city right of way.

     • The council approved a tax abatement request from Steve Koob for his new building that was constructed several years ago. The abatement amounts to $46,700 over a five-year period.

     While the city and Koob discussed the possibility of annexing into city limits several years ago, the process was delayed due to issues with an adjacent property. Throughout that delayed timeframe, Koob did not pay city taxes, but lost the potential tax abatement on the new/improved property.

     “He wasn’t paying city taxes that whole time,” said Goedken in regards to offering a city-tax abatement. “A lot of people could take offense to that. He was in the county, not paying city taxes. So he saved on taxes all those years and gets an abatement?”

     • In a related case, the council also approved a tax abatement request from Lloyd Welter for his condo properties on Maple St. The abatement amounts to $75,000 over a five-year period.

     In this case, Herman explained, Welter applied for the abatement, but was ineligible due to zoning issues. He was instructed to reapply, but that never happened.

     “He was instructed to reapply and didn’t,” said Wolken. “I think we’re being nice here.”

     • The council approved the purchase of a 2018 Ford Utility Police Interceptor from Freese Motors for $30,000. The state bid was less than the local bid, but Police Chief Britt Smith said it’s important to buy local.