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Clawson council debates how to respond to offensive yard sign; considers outreach and nuisance ordinance
Summary
A resident-raised complaint about an offensive sign prompted council discussion about freedom of speech, prosecutor-cited statutes, and whether to pursue a town ordinance or countywide approach framed as a public nuisance. Council agreed to attempt outreach and to explore ordinance language and coordination with other mayors.
A council member raised concern about an offensive yard sign visible from a local road and said the sheriff’s office indicated limited enforcement because of freedom-of-speech protections. "He called back and said there's really not much that they do because, freedom of speech," the presiding speaker said when reporting the sheriff's response.
Speaker 7 said they had consulted the prosecutor and reviewed state codes and sample city ordinances available via a shared master offense table. To avoid running afoul of constitutional protections, Speaker 7 recommended the town consider language focused on public nuisance or disturbance of the peace rather than censoring speech. "If it's causing a disturbance of the peace or the natural order of the town...I think you can adopt an ordinance that would hold weight," Speaker 7 said.
Council members suggested initial steps including a community-wide letter (to avoid singling out the resident), an informal 'knock-and-talk' outreach, or asking the sheriff to make contact. Several members favored contacting neighboring mayors and, if the problem is widespread, seeking a county ordinance so cities would not each have to draft separate measures.
Next steps: the council agreed the presiding official would circulate a drafted letter to residents and that the town would explore sample ordinance language and discuss the issue with the county and other mayors at upcoming intergovernmental meetings. No ordinance was introduced or adopted at the meeting.
