Anna Council considers sign guidelines
<p class="p1">The Anna City Council is reviewing proposed guidelines for the display of signs in the Union County community.</p><p class="p1">The topic was addressed at a regular meeting of the city council which was held Tuesday evening, Nov. 17. The meeting was at Anna City Hall.</p><p class="p1">Signage in the city has been discussed extensively in recent months at council meetings. </p><p class="p1">Discussion especially had focused on the use of off-premises signs by businesses in Anna. Concerns about the display of such signs had been raised by a business person in Anna.</p><p class="p1">The city council had discussed the issue at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 3. At that time, it was agreed that the city administrator would begin work on the creation of guidelines for signs. Council members were asked to share their thoughts and feedback on the matter with the city administrator.</p><p class="p1">City administrator Steve Guined drafted proposed guidelines regarding the display of signs in the community for review by council members at the Nov. 17 meeting.</p><p class="p1">Guined has suggested the council consider taking action to amend the city's existing sign ordinance, which was passed in 1999. </p><p class="p1">The 1999 ordinance was passed as an amendment to Anna's zoning guidelines, which date to 1981.</p><p class="p1">The city administrator noted that the existing ordinance does allow businesses to have off-premises signs. However, such signs can only be located on property adjacent to the business. During previous discussion about the matter, it had been indicated that off-premises signs simply were not allowed.</p><p class="p1">The existing ordinance governs such issues as the definition of a sign, unlawful signs and the removal of such displays.</p><p class="p1">The city administrator has proposed the establishment of S-1 and S-2 designated areas in Anna which would govern the display of signs. </p><p class="p1">Such designations would be similar to codes which already are in place in the city's zoning ordinance. The codes include such designations as B-1 and B-2 for areas which are zoned for businesses and M-1 for manufacturing areas. The city administrator explained that each code "represents the unique character of each type of zoning."</p><p class="p1">Guined said that the proposed S-1 and S-2 designations would establish regulations for the display of on-premises and off-premises signs for various locations in Anna. </p><p class="p1">During discussion about the matter, he noted that current guidelines only allow for the display of signs in non-residential areas of the city. That regulation would continue under the newly proposed guidelines.</p><p class="p1">The city administrator suggested that as the council moves forward on a review of new regulations, consideration also may want to be given for such matters as a sign application form, fees for such a program and fines for violations of the ordinance.</p><p class="p1">Mayor Steve Hartline said that the city administrator's proposed guidelines were a "good start." </p><p class="p1">In other business at last week's meeting.</p><p class="p1">The city administrator reported that Anna's budget was tracking well for the first six months of Fiscal Year 2015-2016. The fiscal year began on May 1.</p><p class="p1">The council adopted a resolution which set meeting dates and times for 2016. Regular meetings are scheduled at 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. </p><p class="p1">A donation of $500 to the Shop with a Firefighter/Cop Christmas holiday season project was approved.</p><p class="p1">The council approved a zoning permit for a new Auto Tire & Parts/NAPA building in east Anna. Plans call for the new building to open in the spring of 2016.</p><p class="p1">At the request of council member David Isom, the city plans to offer a survey to Anna residents regarding the pick up of leaves. </p><p class="p1">Plans call for the survey to be drafted and included in December utility bills. </p><p class="p1">The council decided to continue a Christmas holiday season tradition by presenting gift cards to the city's full- and part-time employees.</p><p class="p1">The city administrator reported that an inspection of Anna's sewer plant was conducted by the state on Tuesday.</p><p class="p3"> </p><p class="p3"> </p>