SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Lamar Advertising Co. has been given three weeks to remove electronic components of a Causeway billboard before the city of Spanish Fort pursues legal action.

City Attorney David Conner said Bruce Renkert issued a notice of violation letter July 11 because it is the city’s contention that the sign in question violates Spanish Fort’s existing sign ordinance and because proper permitting for the structure was never sought.

"We’ve asked them to cease operations," Mayor Joe Bonner said, indicating the advertising company has 21 days from receipt of the letter to comply with the request.

"It’s my understanding that we’re not asking them to take the sign down, but we are telling them its current (electronic) format violates our ordinance. They have to (revert) back to the static sign they had before," Bonner said.

Attempts to reach Lamar for comment were unsuccessful.

The issue prompted the July 5 passage of a six-month moratorium on the erection of certain types of signs until the legality of Lamar’s sign in front of the former Ramada Inn is determined.

Specifically, the moratorium prohibits the "permitting, construction, improvement, expansion, replacement and alteration of off premise signs, billboards, electronic signs, digital signs and video signs."