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For Immediate Release March 25, 2008 Linda Walton, 362-0330 (AMERICAN FORK, Utah) – The American Fork City Council passed a yard sale ordinance on February 12, 2008, to better coordinate and organize yard sales around the city. The purpose of the yard sale ordinance is to enhance the public safety of AmericanFork, to prohibit unfair business competition and to improve the aesthetics of the city by controlling how long yard sales can last and how they are advertised. “The main purpose of the ordinance is to prevent those who use the yard sale as a year long business. It isn’t appropriate to run a business in a residential neighborhood. The ordinance is not intended to restrict yard sales to raise funds for worthy causes or to just clean out your closet. These yard sales are community building,” said Heidi Rodeback, American Fork City council member. To help prevent yard sales from turning into a residential business the new ordinance restricts the continuous sale of used or new merchandise at a residential location. It also prohibits yard sales from including new or used merchandise bought for the purpose of being re-sold at a yard sale. Also yards sales may only be held twice a year at the same address lasting no longer than three consecutive days. “Yard sales help people get to know their neighbors and neighborhoods. They can also be used as fundraisers for worthy causes, like a child with cancer. They can bring neighborhoods together and they help families meet their bottom line,” Rodeback said. To help maintain the beauty of the American Fork community the ordinance restricts merchandise sold at the yard sale from being placed on the sidewalk or in a public right-of-way. Merchandise sold at a yard sale must be removed from public view with in 12 hours after the yard sale and can only be placed in the public view 12 hours before the start of the yard sale. The new yard sale ordinance also limits the use of signs. Only four signs advertising the yard sale are allowed. Signs are not permitted in public rights-of-way, attached to utility poles or boxes, trees, public buildings or any street/traffic control signs. Signs must be taken down 12 hours after the conclusion of the yard sale and can only be displayed 12 hours before the start of the yard sale. The city is allowing citizens to advertise their yard sales on the city website. Residents will be responsible for posting their own information. They can do this under residents – yard sales from www.afcity.com. The city hopes that by offering this service to the community it will reduce the amount of signs and therefore beautify the city. Information for the upcoming weekend will be posted on Thursdays at 5 p.m. The city will also post the list at the City Administration building, at the Library and at the Fitness Center. The information can also be found on the Internet. Internet access is available at the American Fork Library. The penalty for failing to comply with the ordinance will result in a written warning the first time and with other violations could result in statutory fines or a Class C or B misdemeanor. Founded in 1985, The Walton Group Inc., a full service public relations and advertising agency, provides special event planning, strategic marketing campaigns, media news writing, graphic design, mailings and speech and position writing. Linda P. Walton, president and fellow of the Public Relations Society of America, has more than 25 years experience. The Walton Group Inc. serves both small and large organizations throughout Utah County including not-for-profit organizations. For more information on The Walton Group, Inc. call 801-362-0330 or visit 725 North 1890 West, Provo, UT 84601. |
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