Sleepers seek to dim signs; billboard lighting in Mound House drives residents to complain

MOUND HOUSE - Residents who see the light would rather not.

Claiming their sleep is being disrupted, those living in the Jeannette Drive area of Mound House want the lights on four large commercial billboards along Highway 50 turned off during late-evening and early-morning hours.

Responding to the complaints, a representative from YESCO signs said his company's two signs have now been adjusted to turn off at midnight.

"As of Friday, Sept. 1, they were set to go off at midnight. Taking into consideration Daylight Savings Time changes, I guarantee they will turn off within 30 to 60 minutes of 12 a.m. I think this is a fine compromise. If things are not working, let me know and I will fix it," Ed Lawson told the Mound House Advisory Board. "I think I have lived up to my part of the bargain."

YESCO's Lyon County permit allows the signs to be on from dusk until dawn, but council member Larry Rickman said Tuesday he has received many complaints from residents saying the lights are disturbing their sleep. Rickman wants to propose a new ordinance to limit the hours the billboards could be illuminated.

"I want an ordinance passed that will require all billboards in Mound House that are not attached to a commercial building to be turned off by 9 p.m. This is a working community. We don't need those lights shining in our eyes at night. There is not a lot of traffic on Highway 50 after 9 p.m. anyway," Rickman said.

Rickman said his proposal was a result of YESCO not following through with a prior promise to the board that the lights would be turned off during the late-night or early-morning hours.

"When they came before us several months ago, they promised to turn the lights off at 11 p.m., but they have failed to do so," he claimed.

Lawson said turning the lights off at 9 p.m. would be excessive, as there were still a number of people on the highway at that time. He also wanted assurance the owners of the remaining two signs would also be required to comply.

Council Chairman Chuck Roberts said, "We are not singling you out. When I made the agenda I assumed all four signs were owned by YESCO. We will try and contact the owners of the other signs."

With Lawson agreeing to comply with a midnight limit, Rickman said he would table the ordinance change for the time being.