NATCHEZ &045; Whether electronic &uot;read-a-board&uot; signs should be allowed inside the city limits is a question facing city officials following Tuesday’s aldermen meeting.

Glen Wisner of Southern Signs appealed to aldermen a recent decision by the Zoning Board of Adjustments to deny him permission to erect such a sign at the Econolodge motel.

City Planner Andrew Smith told aldermen the Zoning Board had denied Wisner’s application for a 2-foot-by-8-foot electronic sign &045; the kind of computerized sign that usually has messages scrolling by every few seconds &045; because they’re forbidden under the sign ordinance aldermen approved in 1993.

Mandy Wisner, Glen Wisner’s wife, told aldermen other businesses allowed such signs in recent years included Excellent Inn, Walgreen’s, the Isle of Capri Hotel and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

While the sign at Excellent Inn wasn’t discussed, Smith said the Isle and KFC signs were installed without the Zoning Board’s knowledge.

Bettye Jo Ratcliff, a Zoning Board member, said at Tuesday’s meeting her vote to approve the Walgreen’s sign &uot;was an error in judgment. Š We wanted to be business friendly.&uot;

Since then, she noted, the Zoning Board has denied an application for an electronic sign at a second Walgreen’s planned for the intersection of U.S. 61 North and Lynda Lee Drive.

&uot;We don’t want Natchez to look like Las Vegas,&uot; Ratcliff said.

In the end, aldermen voted to allow the Econolodge sign and to study the part of the sign ordinance dealing with electronic signs to see how it might be changed.

&uot;I’m also going to ask our planner to bring us back some information on updating our sign (ordinance),&uot; Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said

For one thing, Arceneaux-Mathis said, &uot;We need to get into the 21st century&uot; when it comes to what signs are allowed.

Also, some aldermen noted the convention center needs such a sign to notify the public about events going on there &045; something that wouldn’t be allowed under the ordinance as it’s currently written.

However, aldermen told Ratcliff the Zoning Board should continue to deny such signs under the ordinance is changed because it currently forbids such signs. Applicants can always reapply for such signs after the ordinance is changed, they noted.