DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette A truck passes by one of many signs near Clarkstown Road that shows resident’s disapproval of a proposed solar and chicken farm near Muncy.

Signs protesting against a proposed industrial size chicken-solar project that were plucked from along neighbors’ front yards in Muncy Creek Township have escalated already rising tensions.

The actions were taken April 17 by the state Department of Transportation District 3-0 office maintenance work crew after the department received a complaint, according to PennDOT.

“Our golden doodle alerted me to someone out there,” Karla Shipman told the Sun-Gazette. She and her husband, Michael, belong to the Muncy Area Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, a grassroots citizens group that is against the chicken-solar project. They live within a few feet of the proposed 164-acre use. They put out a sign on their front yard along the road saying – “No Ugly Massive Solar Farm” and “No Smelly Industrial Chicken Farm” that was among those pulled out by the road crew working with PennDOT.

She initially said she thought someone was picking up trash.

“We’re ground zero,” she said, adding the couple had signs in their yard all summer long advertising Dohl Construction, a Hughesville-based company that did work for the Shipmans.

“Nobody said a word about that,” she said. “They were not obstructing traffic or impeding on the beautification of the highway. It was one anonymous caller that brought this action.”

“If they would have just knocked on the door and said ‘your sign is on the state right-of-way, move it back,” Michael said.

That’s not what happened, as the truck was filled with about 30 signs, the couple said.

Karla said she asked for her sign and also the other signs made by coalition members.

Obliging, the crew gave her back many of the protest signs that had been collected – with exception of some political candidates’ signs.

“In defense of those fellows I did apologize,” Karla said. Because, as she added, “that’s not me. I was caught up in the moment.”

However, Mike disputed the right-of-way measurements. He said he has the information on the right-of-way measurements given to him from a neighbor, a former engineer with PennDOT, and they used a county GIS map.

“On our side it is 25-foot right-of-way, and on the other side (where the project is proposed) it is (about a 30-foot or so right-of-way), he said.

The right-of-way can vary, according to a PennDOT employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Some of these signs – not all – were made by residents who belong to the coalition, he said.

Harley Fry, a township supervisor candidate, said in an email, “PennDOT’s rules are very clear that signs placed within the right-of-way are considered illegal encroachments,” Fry said. “Muncy Creek Township has its own zoning rule (Section 802.1 A) that prohibits signs in the right-of-way. I tried to make sure that all of my political signs were located no closer than the telephone poles to the road, but unfortunately PennDOT felt different. Thankfully, however, they dropped them off at the township building so that I didn’t have to travel to their facility to retrieve them.”

A good rule of thumb is for any signs – whether they are political, grassroots, or advertising a business service such as power washing a house – to make sure they are posted behind the telephone or utility pole, which is a good marker for the being out of the state right-of-way, a PennDOT employee familiar with Thursday’s removals said. When asked for further clarification about the action taken, PennDOT communications provided the following:

• On Thursday, April 17, PennDOT received a concern regarding lawn signs that were placed along several state roads in Muncy Creek Township.

• Maintenance crews reviewed the concern, identified, and removed lawn signs that were placed within the PennDOT right-of-way, following state law.

• The removed signs were taken to the township office building. The department also provided citations information regarding the amount of fines that can be assessed for violations of the law.

• It defined the lawn signs as temporary signs usually placed in a yard that display messages or advertising. These signs should not be placed within the highway right-of-way or attached on light, signal posts, guide rail, or other PennDOT traffic control devices.

• Also, avoid placing signs between the sidewalk and the roadway.

• Illegally placed signs can pose safety hazards. These signs or objects may interfere with a driver’s view or other traffic, official traffic signs, and traffic signals, and crashes may result.

For those with questions about where to put their lawn signs they can call the office at 570-368-4281.

If a sign is removed, please call the office to find out if a maintenance crew removed it. The signs can be retrieved and are typically stored for 30 days before disposal.

As candidates begin their campaigns and potentially use signs in their communities, PennDOT shared the following written guidance on where they may be placed.

Per federal and state laws, unauthorized signs cannot be placed within the state right-of-way along state roads, interstates, expressways, or other limited access highways.

Any political sign or banner placed within the right-of-way is considered an illegal encroachment.

Political signs also can’t be attached on light or signal posts, guide rail or other state traffic control devices, illegal signs can be removed at any time by PennDOT without notice to the owner.

However, political and other signs can be placed on private property outside of the highway right-of-way, with the property owner’s permission. Such signs are considered temporary and campaigns are responsible for removing them immediately after the election is over.