Algonquin Electronic Billboard Halt Looking Likely

The Algonquin Village Board Tuesday officially passed a resolution asking the McHenry County Board to declare a moratorium on permits for electronic billboards, especially in
the unincorporated parts of Algonquin where one's already been OK'ed and another's pending.

Board members fear big LED signs like one scheduled for installation along Algonquin Road will distract and confuse motorists, disturb nearby residents, waste energy but, worst, look tawdry and aggressively at that. That's why they're banned within Algonquin proper. However, the Village has no control over the unannexed islands within it that belong to McHenry County where LED billboards aren't specifically regulated. Yet. Regs are expected in a new County Unified Development Ordinance expected out in a few days.

Algonquin's not the only village where sign companies are trying to squirm through the loophole before it closes. McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin rushed in just after the Board's vote to tell members signs will come up before the County Board's Planning and Development Committee tomorrow saying, "(Committee Chairman) Tina Hill feels confident the moratorium will move ahead." Austin said the County Board would probably dispense with its 30-day review rule on a sign moratorium, too.