Stark man battles ‘eyesore’ yard signs even after theft conviction
LAKE TWP. – Mosquito Authority signs tucked in yards and stapled to utility poles have been one of the Hartville-area franchise’s best customergenerators for years.
But Lake Township resident William Glenn Maling has a different point of view, describing the signs as nothing more than “advertising vomit.”
The 62-year-old retiree despises seeing the roadside ads so much that he tore down and threw away more than 100 of them. And despite being charged with and pleading guilty to first-degree misdemeanor theft, he might not be done.
He offers no apology for his crusade. “These guys crap on our community,” said Maling, who enjoys taking walks and drives, picking up litter as he goes. He even keeps trash bags at the ready in his vehicle.
How did he wind up in court over missing Mosquito Authority signs?
Maling was charged with theft in April after the signs began disappearing from Stark County yards and utility poles.
The complaint was filed after Mosquito Authority owner Blaine Miller’s crews witnessed and recorded Maling removing company signs near Market Avenue N and Mt. Pleasant Street NE in Plain Township.
Maling had vowed to fight the charge but pleaded guilty on April 28 after speaking with an attorney. The accruing court costs outweighed the cost of the original fine, Maling said.
Canton Municipal Court Judge John Poulos sentenced Maling to do 20 hours of community service, complete an online course and pay all fees and fines.
“I’m not going to say I’m going to go out and rip down every sign that he has, but I have more confidence at this point,” Maling told the Canton Repository after his conviction. “My intent is to complete the community service as per the charges, and perhaps address my complaint in a more procedural manner moving forward.”
Mosquito Authority owner feels targeted
Miller, 57, of Marlboro Township, says he’s owned the Hartville-area franchise for about 10 years and has never had a problem with his signs until they started going missing last month.
“My guys were out treatment training, and we had just installed dash cam videos in our trucks when we saw a guy driving around in his car pulling out our signs,” Miller said.
His crews watched as a man drove up to intersections, pulling signs from utility poles and out of the ground and putting them into his car, he said.
“I have him on camera, pulling out signs and leaving others,” said Miller, who felt his business was being targeted. “We’re just trying to make a living, I don’t wish the guy ill, just leave us alone.”
Miller noted the revenue generated from the signage mostly covers the salary of his staff of 13.
The signs cost about $8 each, he said, meaning he has lost hundreds of dollars
in advertising.
Miller said the company’s signs were not posted anywhere prohibited by local ordinances.
Despite Maling’s court sentence, Miller said his signs continue to disappear.
Firstenergy weighs in on sign legality
Firstenergy said the public should not to hang signs or flags on utility poles or electrical equipment. Doing so creates serious safety hazards for employees and the public.
States prohibit the posting of signs or outdoor advertising on utility poles.
“Individuals who would like to advertise a cause or event are encouraged to check with their local municipality on regulations about posting signs in their community, and please keep them off utility poles,” the utility company said in a statement.
Reach Cassandra cnist@gannett.com; Follow on Twitter @Cassienist