Like most people these days, Jane Pfister keeps pretty close tabs on unemployment numbers that have sent more than 142,000 area workers, 50,000 in St. Louis County alone, to the sidelines.

Unlike most people, Pfister is in a position to do something about it.

The operations assistant manager with the Arizon Cos. in Maryland Heights, she oversees hiring at the plant that manufactures ventilation systems for one of the firm's primary products — the oversized free-standing, billowing air structures that provide athletes, events and post-disaster triage units protection from the elements.

Arizon has not been totally immune from the fickle economy, laying off a handful of its 150 workers last winter.

As summer moved into fall, however, business had picked up enough that Pfister was ready to put out a help wanted sign.

And that's when the trouble began.

Over her 20 years in human resources, the last two at Arizon, Pfister has embraced the traditional hiring path by placing help wanted advertisements in print outlets and online.

The economy being what it is, this time she decided to put out word of Arizon's decision to hire 30 new full-time employees directly in front of the heating-and-air-conditioning plant at 11880 Dorsett Road.

"It's not hard for us to get applications; we get people applying all the time," Pfister said. "But I wanted to get people from the local area."

So last Friday morning, a slightly-oversized real estate sign materialized on the grassy right-of-way between the plant and the street: NOW HIRING PRODUCTION WORKERS — APPLY WITHIN.

The rate of return on the sign was pretty phenomenal.

Within 90 minutes, six passers-by stopped by Pfister's office to fill out applications.

"That should tell you how many people are looking for jobs," said Pfister. Visitor number seven, though, had no interest in employment.

As luck would have it, 11880 Dorsett Road is located directly across from one of the driveways providing access to the institution housed at 11911 Dorsett Road.

Any motorist pulling in or out of that driveway could not help but notice Arizon's sign.

One of those motorists happened to be a code enforcement officer with an office in that Dorsett Road institution: the City of Maryland Heights Municipal Center.

Economic conditions may change. Local laws and statutes governing property usage don't. Maryland Heights, the code enforcement officer informed Pfister, has an ordinance regulating temporary sign usage.

For a $25 fee, the city will issue a permit allowing a business to erect a temporary sign three times a year, each for a period not to exceed two weeks.

Maryland Heights building commissioner Randy Noland said the Arizon sign lacked a proper permit. Moreover, Pfister had planted the sign in a location that blocked the view of motorists exiting driveways along the south side of Dorsett Road.

Upon learning of the statute, Pfister pulled the sign from the right-of-way and stationed it, all but invisible to passing traffic, behind the plant's glass front door.

She then contacted the newspaper, a move that confounds Noland.

"She could come over, fill out the paperwork and we'd take care of it right away," Noland said Monday.

Pfister begrudgingly says she intends to do just that.

"I understand that every community has rules and regulations about what can and cannot be," she said. "But in today's environment, business and community leaders need to find a way to help. And I get the impression that Maryland Heights isn't much interested in helping out."

Not so, says Noland.

"We are very developer friendly in Maryland Heights," he countered.

Although Pfister has yet to obtain a permit, Arizon still has its sign out (albeit no longer literally) for 30 workers interested in full-time jobs, with benefits.

The interviewing process begins Monday.