By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ANDERSON TWP. - A change in this eastern Hamilton County suburb's zoning ordinances has some political candidates concerned about their First Amendment rights.

But township officials say the concerns are unwarranted.

Gary Seibert, a former Forest Hills School Board member who is once again running for a seat on the board, is upset that he has to pay a permit fee to post a 4-by-8-foot political sign along streets and roadways in the township.

"You almost have to be a surveyor in order to put signs up anywhere," he said.

In January, zoning officials approved a new ordinance that creates a fee structure for signs of a specific size, posted in either residential or commercial areas.

The measure went into effect in February.

Township Trustee Albert Peter said the permit is only required for signs 8 square feet or larger in residential areas, and 16 square feet or larger in commercial areas. The cost is about 50 cents per square foot for each display.

The small signs candidates use, which stick in the grass along walkways and roadways, are not covered, Peter added.

"This was merely done to control the larger signs - not just political ones, but every kind of sign - being placed in the township. We were concerned about the misuse of signage. Large signs were popping up everywhere, all over the township, in the right of way and other places that just signaled it was too much," Peter added.

But to Thomas Luttmer, a candidate for township trustee running against incumbent trustees President Russ Jackson Jr., the zoning change would seem to interfere with a person's right to free speech.

"Suppose I want to post one of my signs in my front yard. It's my property. But I'd have to purchase a permit. Suppose I can't afford that fee. Then I can't post my sign," he said, adding as part of his campaign, he has racked up more than $800 in fees, which he has paid.

Steve Sievers, director of the township's Development Services Department, said the ordinance in no way inhibits the kind of sign a person wishes to display. And, if a person can't pay the permit fee then it's just a simple matter of scaling down the size of the sign.

Seibert said his signs are well under the regulated measurements, but still had several of his signs taken down.

He said he reclaimed them at the township's government center.

"If you aren't in compliance then they should send you some kind of a warning letter and ask you to take the sign down, rather than taking it down themselves," he said. "If the election was over and the signs were still up, the township wouldn't take them down then. Why are they doing it before the election?"

Township officials couldn't immediately say why Seibert's signs were removed.

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