Signs for, against Belpre City Schools levy being defaced, taken
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BELPRE -- A public right of way just off Rockland Avenue appears to have become a miniature battleground over the proposed Belpre City Schools bond issue and tax levy coming up on the general election ballot.
At first, there was a sign urging people to vote against the issue stood in front of a utility pole in a grassy area between the lanes of Boulevard Drive. One morning, a "vote yes" sign was planted right in front of it. Later, the pro-levy sign was gone. A day or two after that, a different opposition sign replaced the original. For a while, "yes" and "no" signs sat next to each other.
On Monday afternoon, only a sign reading "Vote yes for our schools" could be seen in that spot.
Signs expressing support and opposition to the 10.99-mill levy to raise the local share of a $64.9 million project to build a preK-12 building to consolidate the district's schools on a single campus can be found throughout the city. But it's not been uncommon lately for them to wind up in different positions, or disappear, overnight.
"It's been happening about every night, people knocking down signs and taking signs," said Belpre Police Chief M.P. Stump.
Signs have been damaged or disturbed in public rights of way and on private property, he said. Stump said he's received more complaints about people interfering with "vote no" signs and those may have been the only ones actually taken. But "yes" signs have been knocked down as well, he said.
Perpetrators could face charges of destruction of property, criminal mischief and theft, Stump said.
"It really is taking up a lot of our time and resources," he said.
In a Facebook post on the department's page, Stump said the department has a zero tolerance policy for vandalism of political signs and officers will be patrolling and looking out for such crimes.
"We're just encouraging all the people of Belpre to respect each other's opinions and beliefs," he said.
The levy first appeared on the May primary ballot, where it failed by 83 votes. The Belpre City Board of Education voted in July to put it back on the ballot this fall.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.