School-board candidate says city removed campaign signs; council cites ordinance 10-16

At the communications-from-citizens portion of the March 26 meeting, school-board candidate Sabrina Daniel told the East Ridge City Council that city code enforcement removed her campaign signs and that she had followed the city’s sign-placement rules.

“I did have a permit,” Daniel said, describing how she and volunteers measured and placed the signs. She asked that the signs be returned and said she had filed a complaint with the police. Melanie Stover, who said she was with Daniel when the signs were placed, told the council volunteers used 10-foot measuring strings and believed placements complied with the ordinance.

City staff and legal counsel responded that Ordinance 10-16 governs political signs and that code enforcement removes signs that violate the city's safety and sight-line provisions. Counsel noted enforcement is largely complaint-driven and encouraged residents to photograph violations and report addresses so enforcement staff can act. Staff said removed political signs are kept at city hall and are not damaged.

Council members acknowledged the complaint and said the council would review the ordinance if candidates want it revisited; they emphasized the rationale for enforcement as public-safety-related rather than discretionary removal. The council directed staff to follow up on the complaint and encouraged Daniel to provide photographs and contact information to assist enforcement.