Madisonville, KY – The Madisonville Historic District Commission met for their regular session this week and were served papers filed in Hopkins Circuit Court by a Madisonville attorney. 

Willie Nisbet IV filed the complaint against the commission and each of it's members.  The complaint is over a sign that Nisbet erected at his law office in downtown Madisonville last year.  The large lit was mounted in one of the two office windows.  The office is located at the corner of Main and Center.

Commission Chairman, Mark Lee, a Madisonville Attorney and commission member Daron Jordan, told iSurf News that Nisbet erected the sign before applying for a sign permit from the city.  After being informed of the violation, he then when to Zoning Commissioner and applied for the permit.  Todd granted the permit because it met the sign ordinance requirements.

The issue was then presented to the Historic Commission.  A Certificate of Appropriateness application was issued by Nisbet.  Following a review by the commission, the application was denied.  The commission said the sign did not meet some of the guidelines set-forth by the commission. 

In his complaint, Nisbet said the guidelines were vague.  He refereed to one part that states, “Lighted signs inside windows are discouraged.”  Nisbet further argues that the Historic District lacks standing to make decisions on behalf of the city when the city had previously approved the sign.  Chairman Lee told iSurf that City Attorney, Joe Evans will begin the legal proceedings to have the Nisbet sign removed.

Meanwhile, Nisbet is requesting the court grant a temporary injunction until the matter can be addressed in circuit court.  He is then asking that a permanent injunction be granted on a final hearing perpetual to the sign.  And he is asking for court cost.

Also the board meeting this week, The Hopkins County Fiscal Court has requested a Certificate of Appropriateness to place a generator at the Hopkins County Government Center building.  Judge Executive Donnie Carroll told iSurf News that the ice storm last year left the Government Center without power for several days.  He said the generator would help the offices at the center, including the Sheriff's Office, to remain up and running if a disaster like that should ever happen again.

The commission said they would need more information on the Certificate of Appropriateness before granting the courts request.

Tim Moore
iSurf News
 

 

iSurf Local News & Community Information Affecting Madisonville and Hopkins County Kentucky. Make us your homepage and send us your local news to publish. Add your news, calendar events, or FREE classifieds easily with registration and use of our easy features at the top of the page. http://isurfhopkins.com Madisonville - Hopkins County Kentucky's homepage! All iSurf Information and Programming Rights are reserved and can be used only with proper reference and link back to this site unless otherwise released.