Slugger wins his sign case

The Beach Road resident, who put up signs on his private property critical of the county government, several supervisors and the county administrator, won his appeal, dismissing a summons and $100 fine against him. In a narrow ruling, Circuit Court Chief Judge Cleo E. Powell ruled the signs on C. L. "Slugger" Morrissette's property "have not been proven to be educational and, therefore, do not fall within the prohibition of [the] Code." The county's primary argument was that the signs were 32 square feet, and the sign ordinance prohibited signs larger than eight square feet. Morrissette insisted that the issue was freedom of speech, and he had a constitutional right to inform those who passed by his property. Powell's decision focused narrowly on the education aspect. "Having determined that the signs do not fall within the prohibition of [the] Code, the Court does not have to reach the other issues raised by the parties," she wrote. Morrissette claimed victory, but the county attorney's office said it is reviewing possible language changes to the ordinance. Morrissette's signs alleged that a "Chesterfield Mafia" existed and that three supervisors and the county administrator were "corrupt, self-serving liars."