Polk amends sign ordinance at request of Midway Baptist

Published 10:00 pm Monday, June 22, 2015

Polk County now allows larger signs for public institutions including for schools, churches, hospitals and governmental entities.

Midway Baptist Church requested the county amend its ordinance.

Commissioners met June 15 and following a public hearing unanimously approved changes to its sign ordinance. Besides a Midway representative, no public comments were made regarding the amendments.

The county’s previous sign ordinance for institutional signs, which includes churches, was a 16-square foot sign allowed.

The amended ordinance now allows for a 60-square foot sign.

Midway applied for an amendment to the county’s sign ordinance in April because the church wanted to modify its current sign and the previous ordinance did not allow the same size sign.

Midway asked the county to change its ordinance to allow institutional signs to be the same size as signs for businesses in the county.

Jennifer Evans, with Midway Baptist Church, said the church wants to add a marquee reader to inform the community of upcoming events. The church also wants to add a stain glass to the sign with an image of Jesus rescuing one of His black sheep.

Evans said in a letter to the county the reader board that holds 8-inch letters would allow the church to inform the community of upcoming events. The church’s currently sign says: “Midway Baptist Church, established 1940.” The sign also has artwork, including a graphic of praying hands.

Midway Baptist Church, located off Hwy. 108 between Columbus and Mill Spring, currently uses temporary vinyl and paper signs for upcoming events. Evens said the temporary signs are expensive to replace and does not have pleasing curb appeal for the church.

Evans said during the public hearing that instead of asking for a variance to the sign ordinance, Midway wanted to get the county’s ordinance amended so other churches and institutions did not face the same issue.

The Polk County planning board also unanimously recommended the amendment.

Section 3.5.7 of the county’s sign ordinance now reads, “Regulation of Institutional Signs – signs erected by schools, churches, hospitals, governmental entities and other public institutions. All setbacks are to be 10 feet measured from the property line (out of right of way) and outside of all sight visibility triangles. Such signs may contain two faces, may be changeable copy and may be internally or externally illuminated.”

The ordinance also now includes the size of 60 square feet and the maximum height of institutional signs remains at six feet. The former ordinance the county had been working with was approved in August 1994.