Round Barn billboard dispute festers

The dispute between the owner of a billboard and proponents of the historic Round Barn of Arcadia, Okla., shows no end in sight, according to a report by The Oklahoman.

Zoom Media purchased a small parcel just east of the Round Barn in October and erected a billboard there. The Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, declaring the billboard an eyesore, demanded it be removed. After heated words, both parties tried to negotiate a settlement.

But The Oklahoman reports that talks are off. A sign for the Salvation Army was donated to the billboard, and Round Barn proponents are urging area residents to not do business with the charity. The local Salvation Army, in response, has asked Zoom Media to remove the sign.

Dennis-Smith said Mazaheri offered the sign opponents several legitimate compromises and has even offered to move the sign at his expense if they came up with another location in Arcadia.

The sign cost the company about $48,000. It would cost about $12,000 to move it.

“We tried to work with them for several months, but negotiations fell through,” Dennis-Smith said. “Unfortunately, there is a lot of passion over this issue, and they’re trying to make it very hard on us.”

Sam Gillaspy, president of the historical society, said there are no suitable alternative locations in Arcadia for the billboard.

The Arcadia group says it doesn’t have the money to move the billboard.

So the billboard will apparently sit for the indefinite future.

My take on the controversy is here.

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