Midway Fire request denied
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

A request by Midway Fire District officials to amend a county ordinance was bluntly redirected by commissioners Friday, March 2.

Midway Fire Chief Stephen Demeter appeared before county commissioners with a request to amend their sign ordinance, allowing the district to place a flashing electronic reader board in the median of US 98. Demeter said the district wants to use the sign to display public education messages and that the current ordinance limits their usage to permitted emergency applications only. The Chief said that the ordinance, enacted in August of last year, greatly reduced their ability to use their Florida Department of Transportationapproved temporary message board. It was last used in November of 2006 displaying information about flu vaccinations offered by the fire district.

"It's a great tool to get information out to the public," Demeter said, adding that the ordinance limits the district to two 30-day permits per year.

"Of course there are more events that occur throughout the year," he said.

Demeter also commented that the permit process was impractical in the event of a major disaster like a hurricane when important information needs to be communicated to the general public.

"The reason I supported the ordinance originally is because we do have a lot of people that are aware of what we call clutter on our streets," said Commissioner John Broxson, whose district includes Midway Fire District. "The fact is our sign ordinances reflect a great caution as far as disturbing the driver while he's trying to drive his car and so forth… I would be very reluctant to see this change at this point."

Three of the four remaining commissioners agreed with Broxson.

"There's too many of these billboards now that have the LED signs and they change," said Commissioner Gordon Goodin. "There are a number of businesses from one end of 98 to the other that have the flashing signs and they are a distraction. That's one road that you don't need any more distractions on."

Goodin also added that heavy use of the sign would limit its effectiveness.

"They serve a purpose when we want to keep people's attention. But when they proliferate they lose their effectiveness," he said.

Commissioners and county officials suggested Demeter return with more specific recommendations instead of the blanket amendment to the sign ordinance.

"Instead of [only allowing permits] twice a year, maybe we could do four times a year," Walker suggested.

Demeter said he would return to the board of county commissioners with more specific recommendations at a later date.