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City: Political sign’s size violates IM ordinance

A WOMAN GETS out of her vehicle Thursday to photograph the “Trump Tower” sign on Iron Mountain’s north side. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — A sign on a privately owned tower on Iron Mountain’s northside appears subject to fines under the city’s zoning laws, potentially up to $500 a day if it is not removed.

City Manager Jordan Stanchina said the largest sign allowable in the residential district is 32 square feet, while the sign on the tower appears to be in excess of 900 square feet.

The size of the sign is being reviewed in relation to the ordinance and any sign found to be in violation can be fined, Stanchina said Thursday.

Under the ordinance, the first-day offense is $100; second day, $300; and each day after is $500.

The red-and-white sign on Kimberly Avenue, which spells out TRUMP vertically, with TOWER underneath horizontally, was placed on the former mine tower on Wednesday.

THE "TRUMP TOWER" sign that went up Wednesday on Iron Mountain’s north side. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

“The property owner was made aware that a sign of that size, regardless of message, is not allowable or permittable,” Stanchina said.

Property owner Daniel Rittenhouse could not be reached for comment. But in an interview with WLUC-TV6, he cited First Amendment freedom of speech rights for having the sign.

The tower drew a steady stream of traffic Thursday, with many parking to get photographs. Most praised it. “Great, isn’t it?” one woman said as she returned to her vehicle after quickly snapping a photo with her cell phone.

A person connected to the former Hamilton Mine building adjacent to the mine tower site said he’d had to discourage people from driving in to get a closer look, though he didn’t have a problem with people walking in for photos.

Another man who drove by, however, questioned whether the tower actually is within city right-of-way considering its proximity to Kimberly Avenue.

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