In a real world response to a digital offensive, Penhold activist Ken McCarthy called out two local residents in one of the most recent signs posted along Highway 2A on his property meant to provoke political action.
Now municipal officials are searching for a way to strike back. Council instructed administration during its regularly scheduled meeting May 13 to look for ways to tighten up sign regulations.
Having already taken shots at the CAO and council, this time McCarthy aimed his homemade missive at the two men behind spreading a Facebook message that questioned his civic commitment, calling his signs a “sideshow” and suggesting he leave town.
“I would not lower myself to the level of Theo Klooster and John King did when they attacked me personally on Facebook, two of Penhold's finest” read the phrase painted in black lettering on a blue-grey background to the north facing side of the sign on the edge of his property, which is passed by up to 4,500 vehicles each day.
McCarthy wrote the message as a retort to a Facebook message John King, the husband of Penhold's previous mayor Julia King, confirmed he authored and posted April 25.
“All your signs have done is make this town look bad in the public eye,” John King wrote. “All your signs have done is make this town look bad in the public eye. Your childish signs do nothing but make you look stupid.”
The post also provided a unique idea for McCarthy's next sign: “Property for Sale.”
On April 26 Theo Klooster posted King's message through his own account on the popular Penhold Happenings Facebook group page.
McCarthy said he specifically avoided using names on his signs previously, and thought the medium would be the perfect way to respond to criticism, since he said he doesn't know how to operate a computer.
“They slapped me,” he said. “It's a reply to their slap.”
The signs disappeared over the winter, as McCarthy was on vacation.
His angst arose out of frustration with high residential taxes and the previous council's decision to build an expensive multiplex, another popular theme on his signs.
In council chambers, local officials discussed what they could do to silence this kind of public negative signage.
Coun. Danielle Klooster excused herself from the meeting since her husband had been directly named on McCarthy's sign.
Administration recommended council authorize an investigation of how other communities have dealt with similar situations in the past with the goal of changing the bylaw governing highway signage.
“As our bylaw stands right now, we can't really do anything,” Mayor Dennis Cooper said in response to a question from Coun. Chad Hoffman, who had wondered about the validity of complaints triggering a rapid attempt to change a law.
The wording on the recent sign was deemed a civil matter between the named individuals and McCarthy based on legal opinion and a recent review of town bylaws.
Under the current land use bylaw a sign “must not conflict with or dominate or detract from the general character of the surrounding streetscape.” A meeting with a local RCMP staff sergeant revealed the issue would indeed have to be pursued as a civil matter, according to an administrative report included with the council meeting agenda package.
CAO Rick Binnendyk echoed Cooper's comments during the meeting.
“There's been a number of complaints made to us formally,” he said. “This particular issue we can't address under the land use bylaw.”
Cooper said he tried to convince McCarthy earlier that evening to take down the sign and informed the sign maker that municipal officials were about to swing into action.
Hoffman opposed the motion to seek options for tightening the sign bylaw while all others present voted in favour. Coun. April Jones was not present during the meeting.
In an interview with the Province John King said it was time someone stood up to McCarthy. He noted he was less concerned about his name appearing on the sign than with some of McCarthy's other statements King said he thought confused residents about the civic process.
“I just thought it was time,” he said, noting he sees the signs as degrading to Penhold. “It's putting a black cloud over the town as far as growth heading into the future goes.”
McCarthy said if Julia King ran for mayor he would throw his hat in the ring to suck votes away from her campaign to allow Cooper to keep his job.
She says she will not be running in the fall election and challenged McCarthy to find a new communications approach.
“It's distracting for drivers,” she said. “There's other ways of taking on the task of approaching the tax base.”
