BONNERS FERRY — An electric sign installed by the Bonners Ferry American Legion Post 55 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3622 has been removed from its original location along Main Street after Idaho Transportation Department officials said it encroached on state right-of-way. 

Shortly after the sign was installed Nov. 15, ITD posted a notice saying it needed to be removed within 10 days because the groups lacked the required permit. Since then, discussions have continued between ITD and the veterans groups in an effort to find a resolution. 

“We are checking all avenues of communication with anybody who can help us,” said Ben Apo, VFW Post 3622 commander. “We’ve got a couple of options if we can’t keep the sign there.” 

Apo said one option would involve moving the sign about 50 feet back onto Misty Mountain Pizza property, which would require an additional $650 in permitting fees. It would also make it less visible to people on Main Street. 

“If that doesn’t work, I’ll stick it on my roof,” Apo said. “That will cost a whole lot of money because we’ll have to reinforce the roof, but I’ll put it up there. I’ll stick that sucker 20 feet in the air if I have to.” 

Apo said the purpose of the sign was to increase awareness of the VFW, American Legion and their events. 

“(We wanted) to show the community and the veterans in this community that we’re still here and we’re still alive,” Apo said. “So they know they have someplace they can go if they need it.” 

He said the sign would also be used to promote community events, such as a Santa toy drive and Veterans Day ceremonies. 

Apo shared an email he received from ITD official Stacy Simkins, in which she stated that “the proposed sign does not qualify for a permit in this location.” 

“We took it to mean we didn't have to have a permit,” Apo said. “By that time, we already poured the concrete, but we were still waiting to make sure that we were good to put the sign up.” 

“In regards to that email, if it’d been worded differently or been more clear to me, we wouldn’t have put the sign up. They didn't explain why it didn't qualify for a permit. Better communication, a clearer definition of what we could do, what we couldn't do, would have been really nice.” 

Apo said he believes previous coverage of the issue created misunderstandings. 

“The one-sided article on the paper has made it look like we told ITD to back off. That's about as basic and clear as I can give to you. The way I see it right now, it's just a giant miscommunication.” 

According to Apo, registering the sign under Misty Mountain Pizza would allow it to remain at its current location, but it could not display any content related to the VFW or American Legion. 

“We want to keep the sign there,” Apo said. “Mike wants it there — he’s the property owner — but even as the owner, he doesn’t have any say in where that sign goes.” 

Apo said a smaller sign had been at the same location since 1994. 

“It's frustrating because here we're trying to do a good thing,” Apo said. “We're trying to replace our old sign, which was already on the corner. It was almost right on the road, and it was old and ugly.” 

Apo said ITD officials told him they were prepared to take legal action if the sign was not removed.  

“ITD was about ready to launch an injunction on us,” Apo said. “They had already talked to their legal and they were proceeding to throw an injunction on us. ITD was going to come and tear down that sign and they were not going to be nice about it.” 

Apo said the sign has already received positive feedback, even though it has not yet been lit.  

“We don't have to light this sign up,” Apo said. “I've already gotten so many comments on how great that new sign is and it's not even lit up yet. Just changing it and making it the way it is has already made a difference.”