Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

The 1971 hit song Signs, by the Five Man Electrical Band, laments signs "blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind.” But unlike the song’s protagonist, Bill Odrey, the beleaguered owner of the historic train depot in Everglades City, wants the signs he nailed along the Collier Avenue side of the Depot to remain as he tries to figure out a way to save the historic building that has fallen into disrepair.

The signs - actually a cluster of banners - are Odrey’s way of recognizing the sponsors who have joined him in his effort to save the old Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot building that opened in 1928 and operated through 1958. Odrey was advised by his attorney to take down the banners before Monday, April 21, based on a planning board meeting the attorney attended on his behalf on Tuesday, April 15.

According to Odrey, the planning board decided not to cite him after he removed the banners on Saturday.

"I don't know who said what,” Odrey said, "because their video recorder didn't work during an apparent zoning meeting last Tuesday. I'm not sure what's happening. All I know is that I was advised to take the signs down by my attorney. I can't go to the meetings because of pending legal action I might have against the city. I wasn't there, and I don't have anything in writing, and I don't know what's hearsay and what isn't. But I was advised that they were going to try to fine me and cite me for more issues. I wasn't truly notified about the meeting, but I knew of the meeting."

Odrey said he was told that he had five days to remove the signs. If not, he said, he would face fines.

Odrey feels he’s being singled out. He feels that if he has to take his signs down, other people around town should have to do the same.

"I think through the Freedom of Information Act, we need to go through the city and check every sign out, because they're making me take my signs down with no authority in writing." 

Odrey feels that his banners, representing a host of manufacturers who have stepped up to help him in his efforts to save the Depot, should be allowed to remain. 

"I have sponsors that are wanting to save a piece of Florida history that happens to be in Everglades City,” Odrey said. "We're not using taxpayers' money to save history. I've convinced billion-dollar companies to work with me.” 

Odrey, who is cash-strapped, feels his building is unique in Everglades City.

"I have the best building in town,” Odrey said unabashedly. "This is the best possible building you could ever have in Everglades City. It's never flooded. Every time there's a hurricane, I let the National Guard use it to save the city. And it was never taken care of before I got it. I came into town because I loved it. I'm saving a piece of Florida.”

Sitting on the deck of the Depot, overlooking an idyllic scene of emerald water, pelicans, and mangroves, Odrey muses about the irony of his situation.

“You hear nothing except the waves and birds across the protected Everglades,” he said. “There's no other place in Everglades City you can do this."

So, what keeps Odrey going? What keeps him from giving up?

"I gave everything to Jesus,” he said flatly. "I did give up, and I was going to sell it for condos, and I prayed about it. Then a pastor and a priest said, ‘Did you let God do it? And I said no. And then I said, I'll do it. And I did it. And then everything worked. Owens Corning came in. So did Carlisle SynTec Systems, Sherwin-Williams, Oldcastle railings, Rams Construction, and Total Construction and Supply. That's what happened. I put it in His hands, and then it happened. So, I know it's supposed to happen."

Odrey estimates that he’s had over $400,000 in materials donated to his effort to save the Depot. He estimates he operated the Depot as a restaurant and tiki bar for a year and a half or two years before hurricane damage led to its being shut down. With his savings dwindling, he’s pinning his hopes on someone loaning him money to hire workers to install the materials that he’s acquired.

"We need a loan,” Odrey said, "to get the materials put on. When you talk to different banks, it's considered a non-performing asset because we're not open.”