By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
The City of Brewton has settled a lawsuit that arose after Hurricane Ivan destroyed several billboards in the city limits.
Council members voted Tuesday to approve an agreement with Bill Salter Advertising, which had sued after the city did not allow the company to reconstruct some of its signs.
Under the agreement, Salter Advertising will remove some of its old “telephone pole” signs, Hines said, and will replace three of its signs to fit the size requirements of the city's new sign ordinance.
The sign ordinance, passed last year, prohibits new billboards.
But under the agreement, “Bill Salter Advertising will be allowed to construct one new electronic message board on property it owns” on U.S. 31 North coming into the city, Hines said.
Under the agreement, the city will be able to advertise city-sponsored events on the new electronic message board, Hines said.
Also, Salter has agreed to withdraw a petition to erect nine new non-commercial billboards throughout the city.