VDOT needs to sign off on illegal sign agreement
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Now that the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement for the county to pick up illegal signs in the public right-of-way, it needs approval by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Chesterfield officials were scheduled to meet last Monday to determine how the county is going to enforce the agreement and prepare it for County Administrator Lane Ramsey's signature.

"We don't know quite yet how it's going to work," said Code Compliance Supervisor Ted Barclay prior to the county meeting. Barclay will oversee the program and has met with representatives from the county attorney's office, risk management and human resources to determine the guidelines and process.

The agreement, which was approved by supervisors late last month, allows the county to implement a program to pick up illegal signs along county roadways and prosecute offenders. It enables the county to reclaim its costs for picking up signs, including legal fees and court costs. Barclay wasn't sure if that included the time of county personnel. After costs, additional monies would be sent to VDOT.

Six citizens have already contacted the zoning department, volunteering to pick up signs at no cost to the county.

According to VDOT spokesperson Tom Jewell, after being received by the Chesterfield VDOT office for review, the agreement will go to the Attorney General's office for another review before VDOT Commissioner David Eckern signs it.

Under the agreement, the county probably would not be allowed to outsource sign pick up to an outside company. "Because the agreement is not typical," Jewell said, "we're not sure that the agreement's reference to 'an agent or a third party' would be allowed or even appropriate."

In the meantime, the county's zoning department, by prior agreement, can continue to take down illegal signs. But Chesterfield cannot prosecute the offenders, and it can't use the aid of citizen volunteers. Since January 2004, the zoning department has removed more than 12,000 illegal signs from along county roadways.

After VDOT signs off on the new agreement, Barclay said, "If we can't find the violators, we'll just keep taking down their signs." He surmised most violators would be warned either by a phone call or letter before legal action was pursued, and he expected that Planning Director Kirk Turner would decide the guidelines for legal action. State law sets the penalty at $100 per sign.

Currently, the zoning department keeps illegal signs for a couple days, and if no one contacts them, the signs are taken to one of the transfer stations to be disposed.

During election years, it's common to see political signs endorsing particular candidates littering county median strips. All local candidates for supervisor or School Board receive a packet of information from the Registrar's Office, which includes information about where signs can be placed legally. Picking up illegal campaign signs can be tricky for county employees.

"We've been reluctant to take down illegal campaign signs, because we don't want to become embroiled in a controversy," acknowledged Barclay. "So, we contact the applicable campaign office. They police themselves pretty well...but other illegal campaign signs reappear."