04-04-03: Celina plans crackdown on old signs

04-04-03: Celina plans crackdown on old signs

By SEAN RICE
The Daily Standard

    "Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs. Mocking-up the scenery ..."
    Celina officials have taken the first steps toward cracking down on abandoned signs around town.
    The city engineering department has generated a list of business signs that fit into the definition of an abandoned sign, according to Celina's codified ordinances.
    After a business has shut its doors, the sign for the business must be taken down within 90 days, city law states.
    During the last several city council meetings, Celina resident Ed Jeffries complained during the public comment section of the meeting that the Misery Mansion signs are still up on Logan Street. The haunted house business owned by Roy Orick hasn't been open since last Halloween.
    After word reached Orick that the city doesn't like the haunted house signs, he came to address the council on March 24. He said the Misery Mansion signs "would be down in 20 minutes" if the city addressed the mass of other abandoned signs.
    "I have no problem with that. Just don't single me out, because I'll fight you tooth and nail," Orick told the council.
    Safety-Service Director Mike Sovinski told Orick that a list of signs is being developed.
    The list is nearly completed, and includes: the Misery Mansion sign, the Cole's Lean Beef sign, the wall-painted Northshore auto sign, the free standing Coffee Shop sign, Bobbie's Balloons, Corner Cupboard, Yaney's Sharpening, Stott's School of Driving, Grandmother Goose and a couple non-existent business signs on the Celina Industrial Park sign and the Chief plaza sign.
    Sovinski has indicated the standing Coffee Shop sign on Main Street nears the top of the priority list, because of its location and because there hasn't been a coffee shop there for more than 10 years.
    The coffee shop sign is owed by Celina resident Ron Amstutz. He owns the two buildings near the sign, which house the businesses "The Door" and "Metro."
    Amstutz told The Daily Standard on Thursday that he has not yet been contacted by the city, and he has no plans to take down the sign.
    "It's kind of nice, because of its historical value, but I can understand the other point of view too," Amstutz said. "I suppose we could paint it and put 'The Door' on it."
    Karen Seibert with the Celina engineering department said the city is just in the beginning stage of the effort. The list has been generated and she wrote a sample letter to be sent to building owners.
    Seibert said she is waiting on Sovinski to approve the letter, then the legwork of finding out who owns the signs will begin.
    Sovinski was out of the office and unavailable for comment Thursday and today.

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