CEDAR FALLS --- The City Council believes a series of billboards in northern Cedar Falls is sending the wrong message.

It's not an advertising message they find offensive, it's the lack of advertising altogether.

Five billboards in a state of disrepair along U.S. Highway 218 in northern Cedar Falls will have to come down.

The City Council affirmed a decision Monday to order removal of the five signs owned by Magic Media.

Only one of the signs currently has any advertising on it. That one promotes the Robert Trent Jones golf trail in Alabama. The other four are either empty framework or have partial signs. One sign blew down in 2008 and just a few broken posts remain.

"They've been an eyesore in this community for several years," said Councilman Frank Darrah.

The signs are on city property acquired last year to build a new industrial park off of Leversee Road. The previous property owners had signed a 10-year lease with Magic Media in 2006 to allow the billboards. The city inherited that lease, but staff members called for Magic Media to remove the signs because they were in poor condition, most had not been leased in some time and they did not meet city regulations in a manufacturing zoning district.

Magic Media appealed the order of removal. The company wanted to repair the signs and lease them out or tear them down and build new, modern billboards.

City Attorney Susan Staudt said a key issue is that the billboards do not conform to city zoning laws and they have not been in use for at least a year, and that would invalidate their ability to continue with a nonconforming use. The billboards have not had electric service for 18 months.

Attorney John Holmes said the city's communication has been inconsistent on the issue and asked the council not to order removal of the signs. He said Magic Media did not receive any warning prior to the order for removal.

"As a landlord, you should allow us to fix our property; it's only fair. Don't vote for this," Holmes said.

Under such a removal order, the city would normally demolition the structures and assess the cost to the owner. However, the city will be clearing the land for the industrial park and plan to demolish the structures without making Magic Media pay.