Commission defers "Slugger amendment"
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Morrissette

The planning commission has deferred for 30 days an amendment to a county sign ordinance that would limit non-commercial signs in agricultural and residential areas. As proposed, signs on private property could be no larger than eight square feet and not higher than five feet.

Assistant County Attorney Tara McGee acknowledged the proposed amendment would make C. L. "Slugger" Morrissette's sign on his Beach Road property illegal. Morrissette, a persistent and outspoken critic of the county board and county government, opposed the change, calling it the "Slugger amendment."

"Do we have a sign problem in the county?" asked Midlothian Planning Commissioner Dan Gecker. He clarified his question, referring to homeowners putting up signs on their property.

"We didn't feel some things were covered [by the current ordinance], and this was a response to it," responded Planning Director Kirk Turner.

The commissioners were skeptical, expressing concern about how the amendment might affect signs at local schools promoting events there, artwork (such as murals) and private property rights. The commission unanimously deferred the amendment until its Nov. 16 meeting.

"We need to study what this [code amendment] means," said Gecker.

A few months ago, Morrissette won his appeal in Chesterfield Circuit Court, dismissing a summons and $100 fine against him. Morrissette's signs have alleged that a "Chesterfield Mafia" exists and that three supervisors and the county administrator are "corrupt, self-serving liars."

Chief Judge Cleo E. Powell ruled the signs on Morrissette's property "have not been proven to be educational and, therefore, do not fall within the prohibition of [the current] 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 proceeded to review possible language changes to the ordinance.

Morrissette, who earns his primary living by writing country music and is not an attorney, regularly lectures the county board and commission about what he believes it can and can't do legally on the zoning issues. He has complained about the county not allowing him to subdivide his Beach Road property, and last month the county board ruled against his attempt to rezone 4.2 acres for a waterfront restaurant at the intersection of Woolridge and Genito roads.