Having election signs is a great way to get your name out there, but at what point do the streets become too cluttered?

High River Councillor Emile Blokland brought up the idea of trying to decrease what he calls "election litter" at this week's council meeting on Aug. 17.

"What I'm suggesting is that we designate areas in the community known as 'corrals' where only those areas are where the election signs can be placed," he said in the meeting. "This would be on your prominent roadways, 12th Avenue and Centre Street is what I would recommend."

Blokland said he's carrying this idea forward from the previous council, which voted to only allow election signs on private property; however, this motion was opposed.

"What I'm bringing forward today is kind of a compromise, by not only allowing signs on private property, which was always allowed, but also putting some corrals around the community so candidates can get their names out there," he said. "That was one of the debating points of the last council was that it was very restrictive if you only (allow signs) on private property because it's unfair to new candidates."

In the last High River municipal election, residents might remember Councilor Dragan Brankovich having numerous election signs, something the Mayor and even Branchovich himself was quick to joke about.

"Dragan's wondering why there's a problem," laughed Mayor Craig Snodgrass.

"I'm not going to object to this policy at all, contrary to what some of you may be thinking," Brankovich said. "The name recognition is an important element of the election campaign (...) and it's important for candidates who are new to the election to have the opportunity for their name to be recognized. I guess that worked for me and I would support this with the suggestion that we look into locations (where the signs would go)."

A motion was made to ask administration to develop a land-use bylaw amendment which regulates election signage.

This motion was unanimously approved, and the topic will be brought up again at a later council meeting.