Published: Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Spread Eagle saws down biggie signs
The signs violated the
Highway Beautification Act.
HANOVERTON — It's not every day that two pillars of the community have the signs to their upscale restaurant cut down with a chain saw.
Monday was that day.
Peter C. Johnson Sr., a businessman, and his son, David Johnson, the chairman of the Columbiana County Republican Party, called for the chain saws.
The signs that were 9 feet square were buzzed down, to be replaced with signs that measure 8 feet square.
At stake was the $10,000 fine that the Johnsons were going to be assessed — one against the village of Hanoverton and one against the Spread Eagle Tavern, starting next month.
The signs had been erected in 1990, one on U.S. Route 30, and the other on state Route 9, to direct patrons to the tavern.
The Johnsons have run nearby Summitville Tiles for years.
"There was no place to go to lunch," the elder Johnson said.
When the tavern building was for sale years ago, he went over.
"Two hours later, I owned it," Peter Johnson said.
The younger Johnson said the destination-style restaurant generates about $1 million a year in revenue. It also brings in 40,000 to 50,000 visitors a year, mostly from other areas. The restaurant has hosted visits by two vice presidents, Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney
A number of local youths have worked there to make money to go to college, the Johnsons said.
What's behind this
But two years ago, state officials decided the signs violated the Highway Beautification Act. The Johnsons petitioned former Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican, and Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat who represented Lisbon while in Congress.
Neither did anything, according to the Johnsons.
Keith Dailey, a spokesman for Strickland, said he was unaware of the dispute.
The senior Johnson said, "It is increasing obvious to me why this state is suffering the sort of job loss and population flight that it is. Keep it up, and Ohio will become a complete wasteland with the only good jobs left being those of the government regulators — but with no tax base to support them."
The younger Johnson said they had the option of paying biannual fees based on the size of the former signs. He said it made sense from a business point of view to have the smaller signs made that won't require a fee.
Scott Varner, a deputy director for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said that the Johnsons would have been fined $10,000 as of Wednesday but was not sure if a fine would have been levied against the village.
But there's a possibility that the Johnsons may have to go back with the chain saw, or at least a little sandpaper.
Varner said he wasn't sure if the regulations state the signs may be 8 square feet, more than 8 feet, or less than 8 feet.
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