Sponsorship banners for sports teams have been displayed along fences for years at Kiwanis-Wallas Park in western Ellicott City, but it turns out they are illegal under Howard County's sign laws.
In order to make them legal and preserve vital income for the Howard County Youth Program, County Council Chairman Courtney Watson, an Ellicott City Democrat, is to introduce legislation tomorrow night. A public hearing is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the George Howard building and the council could vote on the bill March 3.
"This bill creates an exemption in the sign law for youth sports organizations that operate and maintain fields to hang temporary banners on field fences," Watson wrote in an e-mail to constituents.
Bob Francis, county director of inspections, licenses and permits, said the signs have been displayed for years, but a verbal complaint from a Frederick Road businessman involved in a zoning dispute near Kiwanis-Wallas forced the county to investigate. By the time an inspector got to Kiwanis-Wallas Park, the signs had been removed, he said, so no formal citation was issued. Watson's bill is designed to allow the signs to go back up as spring sports resume in March.
"It is my belief that all youth sports leagues provide a tremendous service to our community," Watson wrote, adding that "where possible, our laws should support and assist independent youth leagues that operate without assistance from the taxpayers."
The Howard County Youth Program and Soccer Association of Columbia/Howard County collect $500 for displaying each sign, according to organization officials, or sometimes receive services for the displays.
"We get work in kind," said Jim Carlan, chief executive officer of SAC. "It is income."
The soccer group's signs are displayed on its private property - Northrop Fields at Covenant Park - off Centennial Lane, out of public view, Carlan said. But they are still covered by county sign laws, according to Francis.
"Technically, it does apply to them [Soccer Association of Columbia] and to schools," Francis said.
Al Miller, sponsorship chairman of the Howard County Youth Program, said his group makes up to $10,000 a year from the banners - money that is used to pay for children who can't afford the fees, and for other purposes.
"It does help the program and the kids," Miller said. Ed Manekin, another HCYP official, said, "we defer a lot of the cost of [using] the park by selling signs." Manekin said about 1,800 youths participate in league baseball each season.
larry.carson@baltsun.com