Small town vs. big dog
Toquerville, along I-15 in southern Utah, is in a legal squabble over billboards.The town is trying to ban billboards within city limits — I guess residents like seeing the mountains and sage and not looking like every other pit stop in America. As Toquerville Mayor Ken Powell puts it:
We're trying to correct things.But a landowner wants to assert his God-given right to put humongus Mountain Dew ads (as an example) on his property and he's got Utah's 900-pound guerrilla* of blot-on-the-landscape advertising, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, standing behind him.
If you don't know anything else about Utah politics, know this:
- Reagan Outdoor owns the Legislature.
- The Lege hates big government.
- Except when a little government — like Toquerville — tries to step on its benefactors.
- Then, the Lege delights in stepping on "government closest to the people."
For more on stopping butt-ugly billboards go here.
*Either spelling or meaning of gorilla/guerrilla correct in this case.
4 Comments:
How disappointing were the three mountain dew flavors.
Toquerville. I remember going through Toquerville over 40 years ago. Back then the only reason to go there was to get to Hurricane. Now, you can go past Hurricane on I-15 and come back the faster highway coming from St. George and skip Toquerville and La Verkin all together. If I were representing Toquerville, I would be more ticked off about that. That said, Toquerville should be able to ban all billboards in city limits, that are not within a state Right of way. Unfortunately, that isn't going to do anything, as the only place you would want a sign, would be within a state road right of way.
This would be a blight on the landscape for this little town. It is such a quaint, folksy town, and it would be a shame to let these tacky billboards in.
I hope everyone recognized the lawsuit filed against Toquerville for what it is. (Spectrum September 23)
Regan Sign makes money erecting giant billboards showing how to spend money. The residents of Toquerville resist billboards. Kevin Wilkinson. the “property owner” who wants billboards in Toquerville, lives in St. George, He knew Toquerville has little budget and need to clean up city ordinances.
Wilkinson has Regan Outdoor Advertising behind his power-play. You can bet the Regan legal budget exceeds the Toquerville annual budget and Wilkinson’s legal fees are small.
Regan has lawyers trained to beat little towns into submission. Their tactic is to sue the town using loopholes in the town’s billboard regulations. Then they drag the town through long legal maneuverings, depleting the town’s budget. They don’t stop until the town capitulates.
Mayor Powell, the Council, the Planning Commission and Toquerville citizens need support.
Everyone, who dislikes billboards that blight our landscape by day and blind the night sky, who support the right of self-government by towns like Toquerville, and dislike strong arm tactics, should raise their voices opposing Mr. Wilkinson and Regan Outdoor Advertising abuse of Toquerville. Picking on the little guy is not the way to make friends.
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