Action Line: Political signs for McCain, Obama OK in house windows

Question -- I've seen a political sign supporting Barack Obama in a window in an apartment building near my home. Is that against the law in Greeley?

Answer -- Becky Safarik, Greeley community development director, said it's acceptable for people to put the political signs in their windows in their homes and that the city isn't going to limit what signs you can put in your own home.

The answer to this question was not so clear cut initially however, as allowed political signage is typically limited to a certain amount of days ahead of an election. But the city is relaxing the standards somewhat ahead of the presidential election this year to allow people to voice their support for candidates, Safarik said.

Question -- At a local business, there are loud volleyball games going on during the early morning hours that we can hear and that are disturbing us. When we call the police sometimes, nothing is done. A few other people in our neighborhood are concerned as well about what's going on.

Answer -- Safarik said for any noise issue, you can call the police department. Greeley code limits these types of noises after 10 p.m. Police officers use their own judgment typically when they are called to a noise complaint during the night. If they determine that a noise is unreasonable, then they can give a ticket or a warning. If it is constant, you can continue to complain to the police if you think the business is in violation of the law. Safarik also suggested that you call Greeley's Neighborhood Mediation Office to set up a meeting among you, your neighbors and the owners of the business to try to resolve the situation.

Question -- I live in the area near the Weld county Humane Society. At the times when they cremate their dead animals, there is bad black smoke and a horrible odor that comes from the building.

I personally think the equipment doesn't work and workers there don't want to get it fixed. I have some relatives in the vet business and it is not supposed to give off that much black smoke.

Answer -- Elaine Hicks, executive director of the Weld County Humane Society, said the crematorium is the original and is 20-30 years old. The humane society has ordered a new one as part of their renovation, Hicks said.

The new crematorium costs $60,000, and Hicks said the humane society would welcome any donations to help offset its cost. For now, she said, the society has all the environmental permits for its crematorium, but that she realizes it is an old piece of equipment.

Question -- Is it true that since the tornado that hit the State Farm building there are cars in the ponds just to the east of there? I'm just wondering because that was a good set of fishing ponds, and I'd really like to fish them if there is no gas and no oil in the water.

Answer -- Jon Monson, Greeley director of water and sewer, said city staff doesn't know for certain if there are cars at the bottom of the ponds yet, but that the Union Colony Fire Rescue Authority Dive Team is using sonar to see what exactly blew in the ponds during last month's tornado that damaged the Promontory Business Park before wreaking havoc in Windsor.

Monson said he does know that there is a shipping container, a gooseneck trailer and a lot of other wood, metal and debris in the ponds. Crews are pulling out the debris slowly from the ponds. Staff and the dive team may eventually drain both ponds to pull out the rest of the debris from them.

For now, fishing in the ponds on boats is off limits, though you can continue to fish from the banks. Monson said that although he doesn't know if there are cars in the ponds, he doubts it because there is not oil or gas sheen on the top of the ponds, which would probably leak. Some of the trailers had electrical wires and other things in them, but Monson said he's been assured that they aren't hazardous.