Isn’t there always a sign? A physical one- from on your own home- the address numbers on the front – to the highway telling you- “where to go” – to the store- luring you in to shop.

What popped up on the new $3.1 million Toledo Water Treatment Plant last week with lower case letters for “city of toledo” caught the attention of at least one council member and a change is under consideration. (Photo and story, Page 1.)

A comment on this sign- Why wasn’t it placed on the east side of the plant fronting U.S. Highway 63 instead of along West Carleton Street?

Is there such a thing as a sign “purist?”

Probably not, but here’s examples for thought.

Start with the Reinig-Toledo Civic Center. The new sign along Business Highway 30 directs motorists to the Reinig Civic Center. The previous sign on the west side of Prospect Drive was discovered too small years ago when it was installed, hence the addition last year?

Here’s what the name of the Reinig Center was supposed to be according to benefactor Leona Reinig’s will: “Reinig-Toledo Community Civic Center.” Toledo Mayor Bill Christensen was going to pare it down to Reinig Civic Center – with “Toledo” and “Community” he saw as both too unwieldly. Others in charge likely took formal action but the mayor and I agreed on a compromise and dropped “community.”

How about the painted sign planted right next to the Cow-Calf Sculpture in Toledo? A plea was made in a Chronicle editorial to not place it as close as it ended up so as not to distract from the art work. It was suggested the sign would better direct people to the sculpture if it were located at the bottom of the hill. No one apparently agreed and it stands today in close proximity to the art work.

When the U.S. 30 Expressway was completed in 2010, the 202 exit sign directed motorists to Traer, and, for an unknown reason, Brooklyn. The Chronicle pointed this out to the DOT. Whether it had already been discovered or not, the sign was changed with Montezuma replacing Brooklyn.

Want more?

The Toledo Community Building has born that name since ownership of the building was assumed by the city. Then, about 20 years ago, along came a Toledo Economic Development director who put up the lighted Toledo City Hall sign in front of the building where it still shines today.

Then there’s those new flashing yellow school zone speed limit signs in front of South Tama High School. Questions have been raised about how slowly they flash to warn motorists to slow down, how motorists leaving South Tama High School know if they are activated and why the zone does not encompass the 14th Street crossing which serves the South Tama Elementary School located to the west.