South Whitehall Director of Community Development George Kinney is on a mission to eliminate advertising signs which appear in the township every weekend.

Kinney said most are placed by builders or real estate agents who are hosting open house events to promote sales.

“These bandit signs are not permissible,” Kinney said. “They are often advertising things not in the township.”

He noted one builder is the worst offender.

Kinney reported township staff go out Saturday mornings to pull up the signs but many times new signs crop up in their places.

“They put them back up for Sunday,” said Kinney, who then makes another round through the township to uproot the signs.

He said it is hard to enforce the prohibition because offenders need to be given notice.

“We do have some success,” Kinney said. “The numbers are coming down a bit.”

When he started the removals earlier this year, he removed more than 80 signs on a weekend. His last trip, the number was down in the 20s.

On another topic, Kinney reported an intern from Muhlenberg College is examining the records of sidewalk deferrals granted to developers through the years.

“We want to see where the missing links are so we can fill them in,” Kinney explained.

In another matter at the April 17 meeting, Commissioner Mark Pinsley proposed taking a survey on residents’ viewpoints regarding single-use plastics such as water bottles, straws and plastic bags, which are banned in many places.

The other commissioners agreed to consider the survey which they suggested should also include other green initiatives.

Pinsley said the township would not have to spend any money on the survey but could have it on the website or distributed at public events.

Board members said at some point, they may schedule a workshop on the issue of single-use plastics and other endeavors beneficial to the environment.