A brightly lit up gas price sign at Rivertown Depot is stirring up some controversy in Conway.
City council told its owners that it needs to be shut off or taken town completely by Tuesday or pay an $1,100 fine everyday it stays up after that.
They ordered him to replace the lit signs with traditional old fashioned ones.
“We've seen an approximate 20 percent increase in traffic here at the restaurant, the convenience store and sporting goods, since we've turned these lights on it makes it more visible and it catches your eye,” said business spokesperson Jimmy Gerald.
Gerald said he asked council a year and half ago that if his business was going to be annexed then he wanted to keep his signs. However, some council officials told him that his lights are LED lights which city ordinance doesn’t allow. Gerald disputed that Monday night, saying his lights are backlit electrical wall lights that he manually changes on a computer.
“You have to come out here into this busy traffic and if someone was to run through have an accident while you were changing the sign you could get hit,” said Gerald.
Councilwoman Jean Timbes said that she supports keeping the lights the way they are and that she wants to keep good relations with business owners like Gerald in Conway.
News 13 contacted City Manger Bill Graham who refused to comment on camera but told us repeatedly over the phone that Gerald was in violation of the city’s ordinance. When we asked why and how,Graham gave no specifics.
Gerald said he doesn’t understand why his sign is a problem when other businesses like Applebee’s and Shoney’s across the street can display their large neon signs.
“In this area of big government where the government is infringing upon our personal liberties and our rights to conduct business, we need to let our elected officials know where we stand,” said Gerald.
Gerald also said that he will not shut off his current sign but will cover it up with the old ones by Tuesday.
He added he plans on taking the issue to upcoming council meetings until there are more answers.
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