The subject of portable signs was again before city commissioners Tuesday, and hopefully, for the last time.

Despite a couple of last-minute pleas, commissioners voted to disallow portable signs, which was part of the city's sign ordinance, revised in 2000.

It's an extremely generous plan, in our opinion, one that has allowed all the parties concerned — those who owned and used the signs — seven years to adjust and find alternatives. The city also plans to give financial reimbursement to those who owned the signs — about $600 per sign — for the loss of their use. Since the city isn't taking possession of the signs, we assume the owners have the option of selling them, which would provide further compensation.

Of course, that's a one-time offer, so while it will be some help to the one person who owned most of the signs and made a living leasing them out — Georgia Miller — it isn't a permanent solution. Miller is understandably distressed at the prospect of losing business — at least here in the city of Nacogdoches.

Presumably, there's nothing to prevent her from relocating the business or leasing signs in cities or communities that still allow the use of portable signs. Furthermore, adjusting to change is something with which every business owner must contend. For example, many business owners are now having to adjust to increased fuel prices, and with much less than seven years' notice.

And, too, there is the question of the public benefit. The legal rationale for eliminating the signs is that the visual clutter poses a safety hazard to drivers, which is a logical conclusion.

That the signs are also "inherently ugly," as stated by a federal appeals court, is also a negative. Ugliness is typically considered a positive only when it is employed as a repellent.

And yes, we realize that individual tastes vary.

However, a standard has to be set by someone. The city of Nacogdoches' standards were set by a lot of people, and only after much study and a lot of effort.

We all stand to benefit from those standards, even those who don't necessarily agree with them.

The standard was set seven years ago. The city commission stood by it Tuesday night.

Now it's time to measure up.