By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Pelham City Council likely will vote during its Oct. 21 meeting to amend the city’s sign ordinance to allow businesses to install permanent LED, digital and “Rotoboard” signs.

During its Oct. 7 meeting, the council held the first reading of the proposed changes, and will vote on the matter during its next meeting. The Oct. 21 meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Pelham City Hall.

Pelham Building Official Bob Miller said the city’s laws currently do not allow such signs, and said multiple businesses have requested the law be changed.

“According to the (current) ordinance, you can’t do LED,” Miller told the council. “We felt it was time to move forward.”

Miller said if the ordinance is passed, several businesses have agreed to run advertisements on their signs for city events, and would be able to display emergency messages such as amber alerts if necessary.

“I think it’s in the city’s best interest to move forward to have this ordinance passed,” Miller said.

The proposed changes to the sign ordinance lay out several restrictions on digital and variable signs. The ordinance would require messages to be displayed for at least eight seconds at a time, would prohibit signs from impairing drivers’ vision and would require the signs to be permanent structures.

Councilwoman Karyl Rice said the city passed the current sign ordinance in 2007.

“This was originally done to keep portable flashing signs off the streets,” Rice said. “They are a hazard to drivers.”

Mayor Gary Waters said sign technology has advanced “greatly” since the last changes were made to the sign ordinance, and said he is in support of the proposed changes.

Councilman Ron Scott requested Miller attend the city’s next business council meeting on Oct. 22 to discuss the changes with Pelham business owners.