Over the last few days I've been removing the new yellow signs with blue letters that have been appearing on telephone poles in Marion County.

Of course, some have been replaced, higher - and removed.

But now the plastic signs are being mounted on plywood and attached with steel bands above 12'. County CE tells me that any in state road right-of-ways require D.O.T. attention; D.O.T. tells me that above 12', the power company must remove them. D.O.T. forwarded the information on the sign to the power company at their request, so hopefully some action will be taken by the power company.

If anyone in the area finds the lower ones, please remove. If you notice them being replaced higher, please call county CE. If they're in the right-of-way of a state road, please call D.O.T. at 732-1338.

That's a more brazen, and insightful, spammer.

Maybe I'll one day be accused of being insightful and brazen. I haven't exhausted all my options just yet.

I could remove the right side of the sign safely with one of those pruning saw ropes, or get a ladder there, or try to beat it to death with a long stick - but this guy's been at it for years and is escalating. If Progress Energy doesn't remove it soon, CE's going to get the guy's home phone instead of the cell number that's listed on the sign.

It'd just be helpful if other sharks in the area mention locations they've seen the elevated signs that haven't been removed so the spammer can get more of the official attention he desires.

I have missed those signs. please let me know the phone. a few calls late in the evening, inquiring about the price may tune this chap up.

In the old country days, a small wooden hand-painted sign with an arrow on a post pointing toward the business would bring people in. Now the advertising model is to hang them everywhere with a name and phone number. I've seen the older versions of his signs and have left them to fade into history. Joseph Weber is his real name, printed on the sign as 'Joe Weber, stump grinding' with the phone number 207-7555. His home phone is listed as 873-4093.

I have not spoken to him to discern if his persistence is based on ignorance or apathy. But because I've seen his signs in at least ten locations in south Marion County and they're being replaced after I remove them, I know he's going to keep at it if not persuaded otherwise. I haven't yet seen if his highest re-enforced sign has been pulled by a bucket-truck, but will mention it here when I know more.

An extendable painter's pole can be used to apply a patch of duct tape over some of the numbers on the sign. I've used a "corner painting" attachment for the pole for this purpose.

This corner attachment has two perpendicular surfaces. First, you apply double-sided Scotch tape to one surface. You temporarily stick your duct tape patch to this surface. Then you apply the patch to the sign. The other surface of the corner attachment can be used to press the patch securely onto the sign.

This same pole can be used to remove high signs with another attachment: a long screw (steel, not zinc) and a hose clamp. Use the hose clamp to secure the screw to the tip of the pole. Then spear the sign from the back and push it off the pole.

A decent sized pole can fit in your trunk when fully retracted.

The high ones really irritate me the most. I have seen people slap a 5 x 8 inch sticky label over the last 4 of the phone number, just to disable it. A 3 foot gopher grabber really extends the reach. From there, something to stand on is needed for the difference. A small ladder? The label can be a real pain to get off, if he wants to try and use it again. Godd luck with any state department, governments can be real sloowww.

I am going to order a paint ball gun.

I know someone who tried that paintball. Lots of draw backs. It is hard to hit the target, from the car especially. It washes off after a while, makes a small spot, sometimes not covering one # on the sign. If you miss, the paint goes to target behind it. They are fun, and perfect for country targets. May be illegal in the city. They are super cheap on eBay.

Not to mention they may attract attention and cause the police some concern!

The long pole and duct tape is a great idea. I'd probably write in marker on the non-sticky side "Code enforcement take notice."

I have the tools to do the job; I don't want to do the man a favor this time and hide his crime. I will let CE have a chance to educate him.

One lesson I've learned from this is when I call CE, I need to have a sample sign or photo handy to read to them. If it's on a utility pole, see if the pole is numbered.

I'll be in that area later to see if anything has been done. I do have a tool that consists of a wire saw, 100' of twine, and a half-pound weight. By securing the weight at the end of the twine,
cutting the twine in the center, and tying the ends of the wire saw into the middle, I should be able to remove the right side of any sign up to 50' high. It's been in my hiking gear for awhile and I never used it - always more than enough wood lying around, and I also have an ultralight camp stove, so I don't think I'll ever need the wire saw in the wild.

First, I think they are up to their teeth in thinking of how not to do much to these sigh folks. Second, who do they fine? How do they prove/establish who put the signs up? Certainly the individual can either deny of not admit. Just cuz their phone # is there, does not create a presumption under the MC code.

We just need to remove or deface the idiot's sign. Maybe put the phone number in the local nightspot bathroom with a notation of " for a good time call..."

Pull a few down and leave the remains in his yard, or neighbor's yard.

I drive through Ocala and parts of Marion county about once a week. The best I can do is stop and remove a few en-route, then dump them at a county sign bay for such signs about once a month. At this point, I've removed a few, removed a few again, reported them here for more local sharks to be aware of stumpgrinder guy and to CE and D.O.T.

Has anyone else seen this particular sign in Marion County?
Does anyone want to dispose the signs I've pulled?
Do you need more information about who's placing the signs?

I'm glad I waited for code enforcement to act this time. The signs have been pulled. If you see any more from this guy, give him a call at his home number to remind him to take them down.

I have run into this problem before, the spammers try to make the sign permanent by gluing it to a piece of plywood, except in my area it was nailed to the pole instead of metal bands. I found I could remove the sign by attaching a weight (large hammer or any heavy object using duct tape) to the end of my sharky stick, then swing it into the sign. The weight puts a lot of force against the sign, this never failed. You are dealing with metal bands, I'm not sure if this method will remove it, but you should be able to do enough damage that will make the sign useless. You could use the spray paint attachment also, or peel part of the sign from the plywood with a sharp attachment. (see "TOOLS YOU CAN USE" from the FAQ section of this website)
I often flood offending spammers with junk phone calls, they get sick and tired of that in a hurry. (Use a pay phone.) I would not wait for govt' officials to act, or the power company. If these signs last for a while, the spammer may think he has invented a permanent method, and add more. Good luck

Call the County elected officials and ask them why the Marion County Code department can't seem to remove the signs when the drive by them, day after day.

I will tomorrow.