Gurnee may continue business sign break

Gurnee may extend a break to village businesses that want to use signs in an effort to increase sales.

Village trustees in early August agreed to enact a temporary moratorium on enforcement of a 14-day limit on temporary signs businesses use to promote sales or specials.

On Monday night, the village board trustees will be asked to extend the break that has been given to the retailers, restaurants and others. Mayor Kristina Kovarik said she's received positive feedback from businesses seeking to install temporary signs.

Kovarik consulted with the Gurnee Chamber of Commerce before the idea of easing the sign restrictions went before the village board in August. She said the businesses would have a chance to use less-expensive signs in an effort to increase sales.

Brad Jenks, the Gurnee chamber's chairman and owner of Star Capital Management, said the temporary signs are an old-school technique that can help a business attract attention during the struggling economy.

"It's definitely a good thing," Jenks said. "But it's not something we want to do forever."

Businesses must gain village approval for the temporary signs and pay a fee. The signs must be on private property.

Kovarik said it might be worth considering whether the village has been too restrictive in having a 14-day limit on the temporary signs for businesses. She said the signs have been particularly useful for restaurants looking to promote daily specials.