In 1998 I became concerned about the number of private signs appearing on trees and posts or planted along the 3.7 kilometres of Tiny Beaches Rd. South within Woodland Beach. At that time there were 25 private business signs of one sort or another nailed, tied or taped on trees, posts or planted on the roadsides of Tiny Beaches Rd. South in Woodland Beach. These were useful signs for local purposes but unregulated. It seemed to me that some regulation by local by-law was needed. I then approached the Tiny Township office in Perkinsfield requesting to see the by-law relating to “the posting of private signs” within Tiny Township. There wasn’t one!
As time went by, more and more signs appeared on the roadsides of TBRS in Woodland Beach. In 1999 there were 50 signs there. In the year 2000 there were 75 signs. Today there are about 120 signs.
But the problem is not just in Woodland Beach. It is sporadic throughout Tiny Township. I finally had the opportunity to make a presentation of this problem to the TT Council in September 2001. The Council agreed to give due consideration to the problem and perhaps establish a by-law to regulate private sign posting for Tiny Township. Since then, Mr. Evans, the Town Clerk, has collected some information from other townships that have such a by-law. Our Council has studied this information and will likely formulate a similar by-law for TT.
There are a number of questions to be considered before making a by-law. What kinds of signs, if any, have a right to be posted? During every election campaign, municipal, provincial, or federal, the parties involved would want signs posted or planted. Church and Community might want some publicity involving signs, etc.
A possible scenario might involve a by-law prohibiting the posting of private signs on Public Lands altogether, or some other regulated procedure. There are probably a variety of interests that may have to be considered.
I have appreciated the co-operation and reception of TT Council towards this problem and in taking responsibility to try and solve it once and for all.
There is hope that the beauty of our natural roadsides in Tiny will no longer be marred by unregulated posting of private signs.
The Clerk/CAO, Earl Evans, has prepared two reports for Council on this matter, and Council has done nothing.
If this issue concerns you, let Council know, by e-mail (eevans@township.tiny.on.ca) or by regular mail:
Tiny Council,
130 Balm Beach Road West,
RR 1, Perkinsfield, ON L0L 2J0