While the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors may not agree on issues like preserving green space, the issue of green signs has succeeded in uniting them. During the BOS meeting on July 5, the board unanimously approved a motion to allow each supervisor to remove the "Welcome to Loudoun County" signs at his or her discretion. Jim Burton, supervisor of the Mercer district, was eager to appease his aesthetically-minded constituents: "I'm getting inundated by people who don't like the sign," said Burton.

In a rare moment of accord with Mr. Burton, Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio of Sterling enthusiastically supported Burton's motion for the removal of the signs. Ever wary of cutting costs, Delgaudio implied that he would donate his chainsaw to the felling effort. Though unpopular in much of the county, the residents of the Catoctin district seem to appreciate the distinctive lime-green signs. "My citizens haven't complained about the signs," said Supervisor Kurtz.

Mr. Delgaudio, Mr. Burton, and Chairman Scott York offered to donate their signs to the Catoctin district.

Eager to recoup any portion of Loudoun taxpayers' estimated $24,000 investment for the notorious green signs, Lori Waters, supervisor of the Broad Run district, made a recommendation. "We can sell them on e-Bay," she said.

Ultimately, the saga of the green signs is scheduled to end in 2007, when new way-finding signs will be erected in honor of Loudoun County's 250th anniversary. Prior to voting on the issue of the welcome signs, the board approved the way-finding motion in an eight-to-one vote.