The Village of Greendale rectified the political sign ordinance after residents expressed their disapproval when their signs were being removed without notice. 

The Village Board made the final approval on Tuesday. Village staff will no longer immediately remove political signs without warning when they are placed in prohibited areas, instead they will give a 72-hour notice to the violator. 

In the admist of a political climate that had never been seen before, Greendale Village staff took some heat when residents accused them of being politically motivated to remove Pro-Scott Walker signs.

This is a change from the existing procedure—in place since the 1980s—when Village staff would immediately remove the signs without notice, which has been in place since the 1980s.

The Village decided to review the ordinance after residents asked that village workers ask homeowners to move their signs instead of just removing them.

With the new ordinance Director of Inspection Services Scott Satula said staff would knock on the violator’s door and if no one is home a letter will be sent out giving the violator 72 hours from the day the notice was mailed to remove the sign. The violation can result in a fine of anywhere from $5 to $1,000. Satula said typically the violation results in a $114 fine per day.

Village officials said the many of the removed signs were on Village property and residents didn't reliaze that was the case.

Click here for the full ordinance.