Local business owners urge council to relax temporary-sign rules; ordinance tabled for attorney review

Business owners and residents pressed the City of Bertram to ease restrictions on temporary signs during a lengthy discussion of an ordinance to amend the city’s sign code.

Sherry, who identified herself and her daughter as owners of Texas Exits Wine, said the business benefits when small, temporary signs — “open” yard flags and sandwich-board-style ribbon signs — are visible to drivers on State Highway 29. “When we first started building our building...we found out that we had to contact the Texas Department of Transportation,” she said, explaining that limited visibility from 29 makes local advertising important for tourist and restaurant traffic.

Penny McHenry, owner of Penny’s on the Dollar, told the council she had spent “several thousands of dollars” on an inflatable that draws customers and described an interaction with a code-enforcement officer she called disrespectful. “I had to call the police department on him because he…frightened me,” McHenry said, urging the council to change enforcement practices and communication.

Council and staff acknowledged competing priorities: encouraging commerce, complying with state highway sign rules and retaining enforceable local standards. Staff said the city attorney had questions about the draft ordinance’s wording and recommended refining the language with the code officer (Ted) before a vote. The mayor said the attorney would work with the code officer and the item was tabled for a future meeting so the attorney can revise the ordinance.

The council did not adopt the sign ordinance at this meeting; instead, members asked staff and the attorney to incorporate the community input and bring clarified language back for consideration.