Township changes mind on controversial sign

PERKINS TWP. — The debate over a controversial sign has a happy ending for the Sandusky-area nail salon to which it belongs.Perkins Township reversed its original decision to deny the permit for Hand Jobs Nail & Spa's sign at 220 West Perkins Ave. The salon's name — which is a homophone for a sexual act — divided people's opinions last week when owner Dawn Moon put the sign on the building."I guess from one standpoint it really gets the name out there," Perkins Township trustee Jim Lang said.Moon knew the nail salon's name would be divisive, but she argued it was hard to forget and was an accurate description of her profession."As nail techs, we work on hands all day," Moon told the Register. "My job is someone else's hands. That's what I do."When the township learned about the sign, officials discovered she hadn't filed an application for a permit to put up the sign. Moon filed the permit last week after learning about it.Her application was denied based on the zoning resolution that says signs can't have words "of an obscene or indecent nature," zoning inspector Megan Sherlund said. But the township reversed its original decision Friday after it discovered the Ohio Board of Cosmetology and the Ohio Secretary of State had approved the same or similar names."Reviewing the likelihood of prevailing in a legal setting of the denial of the permit, it was concluded that there is no real choice other than to approve the sign permit application as submitted," zoning inspector Megan Sherlund said.Moon is relieved the debate over the sign has ended, and she can focus on her the nail salon which opened Monday."We're happy to know that we get to keep the sign and move forward with the business," Moon said.Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterA new nail salon, located on Perkins Ave., is drawing attention for its controversial name.