Perry to vote on relaxing sign ordinance

Perry City Council is scheduled to consider changing the city's ordinance on signs. A public hearing on the matter is set for Tuesday before the council hears a first reading of the new rules.

The biggest among the proposed changes to the ordinance would allowing business owners to display styles of signs currently not allowed in the city such as flags, balloons "or anything that is set in motion by the wind," according to the ordinance.

"Planning Commission is recommending that businesses would be allowed to, on a very limited time frame (and) with a permit, to use the floating signs and banners and that type of stuff, whereas they currently cannot do that at all right now," City Manager Lee Gilmour said.

Gilmour said several business owners and churches have complained that the current city law is hurting their promotion or advertising. The proposed new ordinance mirrors current downtown regulations citywide with the exception of display times.

In other business, the council will discuss allowing an exception to its wastewater connection policy.

"The Perry Hospital had received from Houston Healthcare a modular unit similar to what the city got for Animal Control," Gilmour said. "Where they're going to be located on their property, it is not practical to have it hooked into the city's sewer system. So they're going to have to get a septic tank."

The Houston County Health Department will not consider a septic tank within city limits unless City Council has no objections, Gilmour said.

City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, located at 1211 Washington St.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Perry to vote on relaxing sign ordinance ."