Sign rules aren't being enforced consistently

On Oct. 4, West Side Camera received a letter from Rebecca L. Figliolo representing the city of Cape Girardeau's Division of Inspection Services and notifying us our message signboard had to be removed.

Review and investigation of similar signs on Kingshighway, William Street and Broadway and discussion with sign owners who received similar notices and called the city inspection office revealed a number of businesses were not told to remove their signs. They were told to disconnect the electricity to their signs or move them back 65 feet from the curb (which effectively would put them behind some business structures) or remove them for a few days and then re-install them for another 30 days.

Several businesses did not receive notices, including one whose sign is located on state right-of-way at a very busy intersection.

It appears either the sign ordinance is being interpreted differently for some sign owners or is not being interpreted consistently.

What are sign owners on Broadway supposed to do after the city removed their front yards with the expansion of Broadway? How about businesses that have displayed signs for 15 or 20 years before there were any ordinances? Are they grandfathered in?

There are many other questions regarding the rules on portable signs. Perhaps the city council should address these issues publicly, especially the issue of the long-term financial hardships that will be forced upon many smaller Cape Girardeau businesses by enforcement of these ordinances.

In a perfect world with perfect thoroughfares with perfect signs and perfect, all-knowing customers who do not need to know where businesses are located or what the business specials are or timely business messages or whether businesses support our troops, the city's position would be understandable.

In reality, what the current regulations accomplish is to make it more difficult for many small businesses to compete with larger businesses in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The regulations deny Cape Girardeau shoppers and visitors easily visible shopping comparisons and force them to travel up and down streets to local businesses.

Frank Bagbey is the owner of West Side Camera in Cape Girardeau.