Definition of an anticlimax: After much speculation and anticipation regarding whether the Salt Lake County Commission would relax billboard restrictions in a vote scheduled for Wednesday morning, the commission opted to . . . table the issue.
Commissioner Brent Overson, laid up with a bad back, wasn't at the meeting, and Commissioners Mary Callaghan and Randy Horiuchi decided the issue was controversial enough to merit a vote of the full commission."This is a grave decision for many residents of Salt Lake County," Callaghan said. "(Overson) has injured his back, he's on painkillers - I wouldn't trust his judgment today."
Horiuchi couldn't resist a joke at that point. "Today?" he asked innocently.
Three weeks ago the commission held a public hearing on changes proposed by Reagan Outdoor Advertising, which would allow larger, higher billboards in more locations and closer to residential zones. Residents opposed to the measure gave commissioners an earful. The County Planning Commission earlier rejected the changes.
Reagan President William Reagan said change is needed because many of the company's billboards are locked into locations that hinder development, but Reagan can't move them because there's nowhere else to go.
"We end up as an obstacle to development, which we don't want to do," Reagan said. "This would allow us to maintain the status quo."
Most of Reagan's existing billboards were built in the 1960s and '70s. Many of them located in the unincorporated county (cities have their own ordinances) do not comply with the current ordinance but were grandfathered in when the ordinance was tightened in 1988.
That means as soon as Reagan takes the signs down, they can't be put up again in the same spot.
Opponents say the company merely wants more places to put increasing numbers of billboards. "The idea that this would disperse the signs and make them more aesthetically pleasing is ridiculous," said resident Jerry Schmidt.
Reagan is well-known for being a copious contributor to political campaigns, primarily by donating billboard space to candidates. Opponents say that's how the company gets legislators to pass laws favorable to the business.
"It's influence-buying," said East Millcreek Community Council member Pat Cory.
Reagan did not contribute to Callaghan or Horiuchi during their races for County Commission, but the company did donate $8,100 worth of billboard space to Overson in his 1992 campaign. Overson maintains that the contribution was a repayment of a previous debt the company owed him.
The commission will consider the issue again Nov. 19.
Overson, by the way, injured his back trying to lift a small garden tractor at his home.