BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont city council man is making it his mission to clear illegally-posted signs around town.
Ward 2 Councilman Mike Getz says most of the signs are on city easement, public right of way or utility poles, which violates the city's sign ordinance.
Not only do those "we buy houses" signs trash up the city, they also target those looking for a quick payday.
"We don't want them here, and when I see one I'll take it down," he said.
Pole by pole, Getz is removing those signs.
"I'll bet I've taken 500 signs down in the last month," he said.
Getz says those signs have even started to pop up in city parks.
"They are in the residential neighborhoods. It's insane. I don't know who they're getting to put these signs up. I guess they pay somebody to come out in the dead of night to put them up," he said.
Beaumont resident Frank Overle has noticed all those signs, too.
"I seen some on the corners of red lights," he said.
Not only are the signs illegally placed, but they could hurt you financially, according to Getz.
"They're going to offer you a low-ball offer, and it's going to be far below the appraised value of the property," he said.
After meeting with Beaumont City Manager Kenneth Williams last week, the city's park and recreation crews have now been tasked with taking down signs.
Getz says illegally placed political signs are also "fair game."
"They can have signs at the polling places once the voting period starts. That's the only time that you should have a candidate sign on public property," he said.
Overle supports the sign crack down.
"If they're illegal they should be taken down. If it makes our city look better and cleans it up, I think it's a good idea.
Beaumont Police officers have been alerted to look for people putting up these signs and if you're caught red handed, you could get up to a $500 fine.
Getz says if you see a sign somewhere it shouldn't be, you are allowed to take it down.