Let’S Uphold Our Community Values, Standards

In the past, our Kootenai County communities always had a small-town atmosphere and friendly people.

Developments like The Coeur d’Alene Resort and large chain stores did not exist. Businesses in the area catered to families and local needs.

I would be the first to admit that I like the additions (in general) of the past 20 years. But what else has changed? Why is the “feel” of our community different? Are we losing our community values and standards?

In previous articles, we discussed several neighborhood and right-of-way access issues. Another right-of-way issue is the multitude of temporary signs. These were prohibited in the past. Today, we see hundreds of signs for going-out-of-business or business advertising, house for sale, yard sale and other obstacles.

Stop signs, telephone poles and even traffic signal standards are littered with signs. In places, we can’t use the sidewalks and in other areas they are sight-obstructing clutter. Apparently, anything goes today.

I wonder what would happen if each of us posted a sign? Would you want these in front of your home? Without a permit (and you can’t get a permit in the right of way), those signs are all illegally placed, and at the very least, inappropriate. Most of those signs eventually become more litter along the roads anyway, don’t they? Finally, they are a serious distraction to drivers.

Our politicians probably are just as guilty of setting poor examples with signs. During recent campaigns, I recall most of the signs were in the right of way and some even in the medians of the street.

In Coeur d’Alene, the permits are issued with specific confirmation that signs will be placed only on private property and never in the public right of way. Did you see anyone in compliance?

During my past campaigns, I made every effort to stay in full compliance and even removed some signs that I noticed were improperly placed in error by exuberant supporters. How does it look when those who wish to govern are the first to bend the law?

We shall see this fall. Then we shall see if our local governments are going to look the other way. Laws should reflect the community values, not the whims of those governing. I firmly believe that if a law is a good law, enforce it. If it is not a good law, repeal it.

We as citizens need to demand action and do our part. Clean up the street fronts near our homes, remove old garage sale signs and those 800-number diet signs, work-at-home or going-out-of-business ad signs if they are not legally placed. (I would guess that none are legally placed).

Watch for these areas of concern such as sign proliferation or deteriorating appearance of public space and right-of-way areas. These small things add up to form our community standards.

Are our local government officials turning their heads and letting these activities continue? Is this another example of compromise of a community value or standard? When is a compromise really acquiescence to a special interest? What are our tax increases paying for? This may seem to be a minor issue, but what other “minor” yet important community-standard issues are being ignored?

Our citizens need to make themselves heard again. Write a letter, make a phone call or send an e-mail to a local elected official. (Send me an e-mail and we will discuss some of the more important issues in future columns here). Make your preferences and community values known. Inaction is not an option. Do something today to make our community better. Don’t complain - work for change.