Wright City Mayor Roy White broke a 2-2 tie at Thursday's board of aldermen meeting by voting in favor of removal. He then ordered Public Works Director Larry Janish to take the sign down immediately Friday morning. The sign was located at 206 Oak St. in the Kerland Subdivision. Newly elected Aldermen Jamey Abercrombie and Tom Black voted in favor of taking the sign down. Aldermen Jim Schuchmann and Angie Reynolds voted to keep the sign at its location. Before the vote, White remarked the sign was illegally erected since the board failed to vote on an ordinance supporting the issue. "There was never an order to put it up," White told The Record. "It wasn't a board directive." Aldermen Jim Schuchmann, however, said that a city ordinance states that it's up to the discretion of the street superintendent where to install street signs. He explained that if an accident occurred or a child was struck at the intersection, the city could be legally liable for the incident. "That is a real liability issue," Schuchmann said. Reynolds, who had requested the sign be placed at that location, reiterated emergency responders did not want cars parked near the intersection to allow for better access to the subdivision. When contacted Wednesday, Wright City Fire Chief Brian Nickerson and Warren County Ambulance District Administrator Ralph Hellebusch each said they were concerned about the narrow width of the street, but they could avoid the street if needed. Reynolds said her main priority is safety. "It's a hazard," Reynolds stated. "I am still concerned about people's safety." The street in question is 22 feet wide, according to city officials. The city's current guidelines mandate a 26-foot-wide street, but most of the older streets in the city don't meet those specifications, added White. He said Oak Street shouldn't be the only street singled out for its narrow width. Soon after the sign was put up last year, it was removed in early August by a nearby resident. The individual was ticketed for taking the sign down and was scheduled to be in court April 22, White said. However, White acknowledged Tuesday afternoon the case had been dismissed by the judge.