A Marquette man discovers the fate of a vintage collection of gas station signs.

MARQUETTE, Neb. (KSNB) – A Marquette man is at odds with the village council after they demanded he remove his collection of antique gas station signs.

Randy Beckman has been displaying antique signs at his Marquette properties for about 10 years.

He said the purpose of putting up the signs is to attract more people to the village. Beckman likes the signs and knows there are more people like him.

“It brings back good memories for them rather than just stress,” Beckman said.

Beckman owns Scotty’s Bar, the only business in town. He has one sign in the bar and several more on the adjacent property.

“I don’t think the city would survive without this bar,” Beckman said. “I’m not saying this selfishly, I’m saying this is the only thing we have. Signs help because they kind of attract your car clubs, your sign enthusiasts, so it brings people in and they bring people back; it feeds on itself.”

Beckman believed his sign was legal until the council discovered regulations earlier this year that made displaying his signs illegal.

In 2019, the board developed new rules and adopted the same codes as neighboring Aurora. This code made any signs installed by Beckman after 2019 illegal without an amendment.

The City Council held several meetings on the matter, which were attended by supporters speaking on behalf of Beckman and his signs.

The council initially ruled that signs installed after 2019, with the exception of one, would have to be removed until Beckman received an amendment, which the council would have to approve.

Beckman ended up removing two of the signs, but a council member told him he could keep the rest while he brought the proposed amendment to the City Council for consideration.

Vintage Marquette Gas Station Sign(KSNB)

Beckman’s original amendment was rejected by the council.

After legal problems and months of concern on Beckman’s part, a friend proposed an amendment to the City Council, which they voted on.

The new amendment allows up to four pieces of yard art that are 30 years old or older per lot, with permits costing $50 per piece or $150 for four pieces.

Beckman said he plans to put up more signs not out of spite, but to attract more people to Marquette Village.

“My intentions are and always have been to bring people in,” Beckman said. “What we have works, but the more in this case the better. This is the only thing we are working on to try and help our little community. Marquette House.

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