ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — The township is asking the Ohio governor's office for clarification on a decision to discourage placing bicentennial signs it purchased at gateways to the community.

        Trustee Russ Jackson said the township was led to believe it could place the signs, for which it paid $1,400, at either end of Beechmont Avenue.

        But the Ohio Department of Transportation has said the signs should not be placed along a roadway, citing safety and liability issues.

        “It's disturbing,” Mr. Jackson said. “Why did we buy these things? Do we put them in a park? Why put us through this exercise?”

        Mr. Jackson said the personalized signs were offered to communities by the Ohio Bicentennial Commission to commemorate the state's 200th birthday in 2003.

        The metal signs are in the shape of Ohio and note that the township was established in 1793, and that it is “Ohio's First Greenspace Township,” a reference to its levy that supports setting aside undeveloped land.

        Joe Bissel, traffic engineer for ODOT District 8 in Lebanon, said the signs are nonreflective and made of heavy cast aluminum.

        “We are discouraging them from placing the signs within the right-of-way and that's mainly for safety reasons,” said Mr. Bissel. He said ODOT, which funded the signs for the Bicentennial Commission, is encouraging municipalities and townships to place the signs in parks and away from roadways.

        Mr. Jackson and Trustee Peggy Reis asked Henry Dolive, township administrator, to get clarification on the issue from Gov. Bob Taft's office.

        “We want to be safe, but let's not hide the signs,” Mr. Dolive said.

Jurors weigh verdict on Jorg
Witness describes Owensby arrest
One girl pleads in poison case
Ross student excels on all fields
Luken, Fuller to debate on live TV
City officials rap chief
Issue 6 subsidizes candidates
Levy gives agency vital funds
Neyer pulls company out of Banks plan
PULFER: Are we allowed to laugh yet?
Anderson argues sign placement
Congrats
Good News: La Salle 'Truck' rolls on
Local Digest
Deerfield settles clerk's suit
Foes' lawsuit over Millikin Woods halted
Hummer Park work progresses
Rural acreage rarer
'Shaken baby' trial under way
Third Butler skate park on way
Two school candidates are shoo-ins
School celebrates national award
Teen makes a difference for orphans
Family won't budge for TANK
Heart-device patient better
Kentucky Digest
Patriotic planners think big
Hunting policy called 'revenge on Kentucky'