Ross Resident Heeds Judge's Order to Remove Offensive Signs, Lawn Toys & Decorations Remain

Robert Ansell is scheduled to return to Squirrel Hill Magistrate Hugh McGough's courtroom Wednesday afternoon, three weeks to the day after thes and furniture, and all signs from the yard of the home he owns at 109 Fairley Road in Ross Township.

Since then, the offensive signs have been replaced with signs such as "For Sale," "No Tresspassing," and "Penguins Winning," among others. However, toys and plastic seasonal displays continue to cover a portion of the yard.

Ross Code Enforcement officer Robert Muchenski cited Ansell for several violations of township ordinances related to property maintenance and signage.

"The signs were a violation mostly because of their content, under the graffiti ordinance," said Muchenski. "The lawn ornaments violate the code regarding accumulation of rubbish or garbage, and are also considered a fire hazard."

"There is not an ordinance that says I can't have toys in my yard," Ansell told WPXI-TV. "There is not an ordinance on any time that I can't put them up before such and such a date and down by such a such date."

Ansell's brother, William, resides at the home, and has been involved in a long-simmering dispute with his neighbors.

If Ansell does not comply, the judge said he would be fined $3,000.

Disputes among neighbors on Fairley Road have existed since at least 2005, when William Ansell erected an elaborate Christmas light display in his yard. The display and what happened to it was the subject of this KDKA-TV report in 2010. 

Joanne Hebda, a neighbor who lives across the street from Ansell's home, said she was most disturbed by the signs. One of those signs included profanity and comments pertaining to another neighbor who died in October 2011. Patch did not posted a photograph of this sign due to its content.

Another sign accused the Hebdas of being thieves.

Robert Ansell points to the constitution when it comes to the signs.

“They all speak truth in that when you steal somebody’s mailbox, I mean, you know, put a sign up calling them a thief,” Ansell told KDKA TV. “I’m just exercising my First Amendment right.”

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