New business’ sign violates Marion code

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A downtown Marion business that opened a month ago has a sign that violates city code, planning commission members were told Tuesday night.

Dawn’s Day Spa, 331 E. Main St., is operated by Chelsea Mackey.

On Tuesday, a sign reading, “Dawn’s Day Spa” was mounted on the front of the business, perpendicular to the building.

Signs that hang over the sidewalk have been forbidden in Marion for many years, although city council member Zach Collett has been wanting to allow them.

Commission members discussed the sign and what should be done about it.

Secretary Margo Yates said she’d seen the sign but didn’t want to hurt the feelings of a new business owner.

Bruce Skiles suggested giving Mackey 60 days to remove it.

Darvin Markley objected to the idea because doing so would set a precedent.

“I really don’t want to go through making them take their sign down, but maybe that’s what needs to be done,” member Russell Hake said.

Commission members discussed having the city’s code enforcement officer speak to Mackey, but city administrator Mark Skiles interjected that he already had sent the enforcement officer to talk to her.

Commission members decided to allow the code officer to handle the issue.

The commission may propose change its regulations on perpendicular signs but is not doing so yet.