Officials ban signs on courthouse lawn

The Colorado County Commissioners Court passed an ordinance banning signs on the courthouse lawn during its meeting, Monday, Dec. 8.

The ordinance relates to “certain Colorado County governmental property” but only focuses on the main courthouse building and its immediately surrounding lawn and walkways. Colorado County Judge Ty Prause said officials’ main concerns focus on potential property damage.

“Here at the courthouse, our biggest concern has been that we have stuff running in the grounds like spaghetti if you saw it on a map, from fiber optic to plumbing to sprinkling system, et cetera,” Prause said.

The ordinance provides further reasoning, expressing the court’s desire to avoid political and commercial partiality and to preserve the overall “historic and aesthetic character” of the property.

The ordinance defines as sign as “an outdoor display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, or other thing intended or used to advertise, endorse or otherwise promote a political candidate or ideology or a commercial product or service.” Any future placements would require written permission from the Commissioners Court.

Prause said he reviewed the policies of numerous other counties and governmental locations before composing the ordinance, citing concerns about “restricting free speech to a certain degree.” He said the ordinance received the approval of Elections Administrator Rebecka LaCourse.

The ordinance states that the court “curtails no more free speech than is necessary to achieve the goal of the ordinance.” The ordinance also does not prohibit alternate methods of expressing free speech.

The ordinance went into effect immediately after its passing and signage.