This is a new watch list for areas that need attention in the Katy area of west Harris and north Fort Bend Counties. Please take a look for yourself and then call and report what you've seen at the numbers listed.

Take a drive to the north end of Highway 99, the Grand Parkway in west Harris County, and see how it's been trashed. At the north end of 99 where the highway T’s into Franz Road, take a look at the 19 ! board signs on the north side of the intersection. Absolutely unbelieveable. All signs appear to be within the public right of way. Even if they're not, they are a serious distraction and should be removed. This is a Harris County responsibility, I believe.

Please report these signs to Linda Gaskins, Harris County Precinct 3 Road and Bridge Coordinator at 281.463.6300.

On Hwy 99 beginning about a quarter mile north of I-10 and continuing south 1-1/2 miles to the Kroger shopping center at the Bay Hill Drive//Highland Knolls intersection. There 100+ bandit signs plust several board signs along the west (southbound) side of the road within the TxDot right of way.

Please report these signs to Ray, TxDot (West Harris County), at 713.934.5900.

Please call and follow up if you don't see the signs removed.

Harris County surveyed the right of way along Franz Road at the intersection with Hwy 99 last week and determined that the signs in question are almost all in the county easement. They will move to notify the 19 sign owners to ask them to remove the signs.

In the area on the west side of Hwy 99 from I-10 to to Kingsland there has been an explosion of signage, both board signs and bandit signs. Most, but by no means all, are off on private property (vacant of course). TxDot (Ray) doesn't seem to care. He whines a lot but keep the calls coming anyway.

At the intersection of feeder roads for I-10 and Hwy 99 southbound someone has been slicing bandit signs. Keep up the good work!

How were you able to get the county out of their a/c offices and get this surveyed? Great success even if they just moved them back out of the POW.

I was stopped this weekend by a deputy in NW Harris County. He told me to stop even if I was only getting signs from the ROW. He said I should call the county and get them out to pull them up. I did not have my codes with me but even if I did, I don't think it would do any good.

CypressShark

>Harris County surveyed the right of way along Franz Road at
>the intersection with Hwy 99 last week and determined that
>the signs in question are almost all in the county easement.
> They will move to notify the 19 sign owners to ask them to
>remove the signs.
>
Fine work getting county to do something. By "board signs" I suspect you mean something large and substantial like plywood on 4x4's. Why the county is going to "ask" them rather than order them is a little mystifying. I have a feeling the signs are for real estate of some sort. Seems like the county would remove and send bill and citation to the offender. If they are on private property, they should send citation.

In any case, getting the county to do something is quite an accomplishment! Congrtatulations.

Newbie (not)

Sorry but no congrats yet. The county only surveyed last week to determine if the 19 board signs were in the right of way. It was reported that they were and now they'll go through a process of notifying the owners to remove the signs. They see this as a way of saving money. I'd prefer to see the remove and fine method but this what we're dealing with.

PLEASE contact Linda Gaskin, Harris County Precinct 3 Road and Bridge Coordinator and request the county to take strong action with these violators. Her number is 281.463.6300.

Last Thursday, October 13, Harris County completed removal of 17 board signs located in public right of way at the intersection of Franz Road and Hwy 99.

Unfortunately, two signs were left behind after the county determined that they were off right of way and on private property. However, the land owner has been contacted and has given permission that they can be removed.

As reported earlier, Harris Count removed 17 out of the 19 4x8 foot signs that had been put up in the right of way at Franz Road and Hwy 99 near Katy, but had to leave behind 2 signs that were on private property.

Those 2 signs are now dismantled after finding the landowner and offering to take them down. He is an absentee owner living out of state and told me he had never been contacted by anyone nor had he ever given his consent for the signs to be erected oh his property. I know that's no surprise to anyone, but it's actually interesting to have it confirmed. After hearing what we were doing, he was glad to give his agreement.

Oh, I almost forgot. My pickup is kaput so if you're by that area and need a couple of pieces of plywood or are just willing to haul them away, they're right beside the road.

In less than 24 hours all the plywood and 4x4's at this and another location down the road were gone within 24 hours. The signs were each disabled with spray paint and the blank side sprayed with the words, FREE PLEASE TAKE. A small sign announced that the 4x4 were similarly available and those (including the sign) disappeared the next day.

Now I don't want to hear ANYONE saying ANYTHING about the sign I posted! It was placed on the private property from which the signs were dismantled to announce an activity at THAT location making it perfectly legal.

And if anyone isn't happy about their 4x8 signs being taken down, find the property owner like I did and discuss your problem with him. He'd like to know how you had the gall to trespass there in the first place.