Political signs become part of the debate

This sign stands on the corner of Larch and Cogswell. Dissolve proponents plan to leave the defaced signs up. (Photo by Gail Peckler-Dziki)
This sign stands on the corner of Larch and Cogswell. Dissolve proponents plan to leave the defaced signs up. (Photo by Gail Peckler-Dziki)

Signs defaced following spat over their legality

By Gail Peckler-Dziki

Correspondent

It’s a sign of the times in Silver Lake when – like just about everything else surrounding the Nov. 4 dissolution referendum – political signs become a topic of controversy.

On Sept. 24, Silver Lake Building Inspector Royce Kennedy began informing residents that the Dissolve Silver Lake banners in front of their homes were illegal.

When Assistant Police Chief Andrew Trudeau created guidelines for where the signs can be placed, but did not remove any, several signs were defaced after dark that same night.

Last week, the Silver Lake Police Department turned the investigation of the defaced political signs over to the Kenosha County Sheriff Department. Trudeau said the village wishes to avoid any controversy that could surround an investigation by the local police.

Trudeau said police received one formal written complaint for the three banner signs that were defaced. Trudeau said the vandals have not yet been identified.

Silver Lake resident and volunteer firefighter Greg Galich said he came to the Village Hall to get an absentee ballot and Kennedy stopped him on the way out. Galich said that Kennedy told him the banners were advertising and would not agree that they were political in nature.

Several Silver Lake residents then descended on the Village Hall at 2 p.m. Sept. 22. Jeff Albrecht, Bruce Francart and Jo Lasdasky were part of the delegation to give Kennedy a letter explaining why the banners were political in nature and not advertising banners that fell under the ordinance.
The letter, signed by Jeff Albrecht, read in part, “This morning you informed a member, Greg Galich, of the Moving Silver Lake Forward group that our campaign banners for an upcoming referendum vote must be taken down.

“You based your advice on the village zoning ordinance #497 section 14.3 – Signs Prohibited ‘…The use of banners, pendants, flags, balloons, streamers, or other similar media for advertising shall be strictly prohibited except for special events lasting not more than four (4) days and only upon the prior approval of the Building Inspector.’”
The letter went on to explain that the banners are not advertising but political in nature and, as political speech, protected by Wisconsin state law. The specifications for the signs are that they do not exceed 32 square feet in size, contain no flashing lights or moving parts, are put up less than 45 days before the election and are removed within one week after the election.

The “dissolve” signs were put up 44 days prior to the November referendum, according to members of the group.

Trudeau was busy preparing a press release to address the matter when a reporter called to ask if he had been ordered by Kennedy to take the signs down.

Trudeau had read the ordinance and said, “There are some very gray areas. Our goal is to make sure that everyone has his or her say about this issue and that it is done safely.”
Trudeau said he could not speak to constitutional issues with the signs, but was simply dealing with the village ordinance.

The press release addressing temporary election campaign signs deals with the size of the signs, the setback from the road shoulder, disallows flashing or strobe lights or other illumination or streamers, how securely fixed they are and states that they must be removed within one week of the Nov. 4 election.

It also forbids signs on government buildings or vehicles parked on government property when an individual is on duty. It does not address a resident moving about the village while conducting personal business.

The Silver Lake Rescue Squad did have two signs on its building. One read “Dissolve No” and the other “Prohibit Yes.” The first sign is against the village dissolving while the second promotes the referendum that asks, “Should the Silver Lake Village board be prohibited from entering into any agreement with the Town of Salem, Wisconsin, for any sharing of Fire Department or Rescue services, other than the usual MABAS agreement?”
Several homeowners reported that in the early evening of Sept. 24, unknown persons were taking photos of the neighborhoods where residents had put up “dissolve” signs. Residents awoke on the morning of Sept. 25 to find three “dissolve” banner signs that were defaced with the word “No” or letter “N” written in orange paint.

Trudeau and Kenosha County Sheriff Dave Beth have both stated they would increase patrols through the village.

 


Posted

in

by

Tags: