Strange happenings in Douglas County
James Bell, a community activist in Douglas County that instrumental in defeating a SPLOST proposal last year, was arrested on Monday for removing campaign signs from a beautification area known as the “Dogwood Strip,” which is owned by Norfolk Southern.
Bell says that he had asked candidates not to put signs in this particular location, but they clearly didn’t listen. I should point out that Bell also runs Lithia Springs Clean and Beautiful, which has hosted various community clean up projects. He asked the Douglas County Board of Commissioners for help, but nothing was offered.
After Bell removed the signs, three Republican candidates pressed charges and the county issued warrants for his arrest.
During all of this the Douglas County Board of Commissioners suspended all sign rules, but when the county was pressed to reveal when and why the rules were suspended, county officials claimed they “misspoke” and back off their claims.
During a conversation with Bell, a Douglas County commissioner revealed that “exceptions are made” during campaigns season concerning enforcement of political signs. Bell expressed his concern that selective enforcement was being used and told the commissioner that the law should be enforced equally, considering the fact that there are state, county and city laws and ordinances that prohibit placing signs on right-of-ways and private property
Bell is facing 3 years in prison and plans to fight for his freedom.
Comments
Not so strange. It is petty vendictiveness perpetrated by elected officials against a private citizen.
If the board had presetned a list of worthwhile projects and a record of accountability, their SPLOST may have passed. If only Henry's voters could act so prudently!
The "above the law" crowd is not unique to Douglas County. Although fines could be issued for violation of Henry's sign ordinance, no judge or county official would enforce them. Fact, not speculation.
To the extent that a sign is placed in violation of the ordinance - and that violation must be clear, and no private property involved - Henry citizens may remove the sign from county property with impunity.
Maybe Mr. Bell provided the loophole that allowed the board to prove their pettiness when he entered property owned by Norfolk Southern.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | June 6, 2008 03:57 PM
Larry,
Remember a few years ago a citizen was pulling up signs around a stop sign in Henry County. The person responsible for putting out the signs saw this going on and called the police. The man pulling up the signs was arrested, his wife was with him and bonded him out of jail.
He had to appear in Magistrate Court, the courts had to turn him loose, because the signs were on the right of way and considered litter.
Grapeshot
Posted by: Grapeshot | June 6, 2008 07:17 PM
I have talked with every elected official I could find and the opinion is the same --- citizens CAN patrol the right of way!
The Code Enforcement folks are in agreement.
As I drive around Henry County today I see sign after sign in the state road right-of-way, on vacant lots, in fromt of vacant houses... These are ALL LITTER and the candidates should be fined!
Signs don't vote, but they sure say a lot about the candidate.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | June 6, 2008 09:09 PM
Mr. Stanley you are correct.
The signs don't do the talking but they do have something to say about the individual.
The Doctor
Posted by: The Doctor | June 7, 2008 12:11 AM