White Tree Bakery owner Jen Juhl asked questions about signage in uptown businesses during citizens opportunity to address city council.

Juhl was asking for clarification for items like sandwich boards that are used to promote businesses in uptown. Juhl is one of several businesses who utilize sandwich boards to let people know what is at the shop on a weekly basis, with The Local and Chameleon’s Pub and Grub also utilizing them.

“Looking at the ordinance, that type of advertising is prohibited in uptown Mount Vernon,” Juhl said. “I just want to make sure I’m adhering to the rules for my business.”

Juhl was also concerned with Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission’s meeting discussing window signage/decoration in the uptown at a recent meeting and the parameters for logos/decals her shop had to meet being in the historic district.

“I can’t get more than a 17 square foot decoration on my building to denote my business, but there are other businesses that are not meeting those same requirements,” Juhl said. “I just want to make sure we’re seeing fair and equal treatments for all buildings in the uptown.”

Juhl also had questions on the block grant that some business owners will be applying for and the work that may be done to building facades and how much of a hindrance working with HPC will be on that project.

“Our goal is to help make our uptown look better,” Juhl said.

City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that sandwich board signage is considered off-site advertising and is not allowed because of that.

“As long as it is not impeding the sidewalks and no one is complaining, we’re not out looking to have the signs moved,” Nosbisch said.

If there is an issue, city officials will ask business owners to move the signs back to their buildings.

As for signage issues, Nosbisch said those are municipal infractions, and they can take months to work through the process to enforce.