Statue of Liberty ad in Fox River Grove spared - for now

Lady Liberty will remain a shining symbol of freedom in Fox River Grove, at least through the tax season.

The village's public health and safety committee, concerned about a Liberty Tax Service advertisement in which someone dresses as the Statue of Liberty and waves to motorists, decided this week not to recommend that the board create an ordinance outlawing human signs.

It instead referred the matter to the zoning committee, which will discuss it later this month. The board likely make a final ruling in April.

That spares Liberty Tax Service from removing its animated advertising - for now.

A few weeks ago, a pair of trustees took issue with Lady Liberty standing on the nearby sidewalk and waving at motorists on Northwest Highway.

Trustees Cindy Cramer and Gerald Menzel say the sign is annoying and poses a potential hazard to motorists.

Lake Zurich and McHenry have banned such advertising in their towns.

"So we're not the Lone Ranger," Menzel said. "My only concern, frankly, was the safety issue. It distracted me while I was driving by."

They suggested reducing the human sign's hours or activity to certain times of the year; Police Chief Ron Lukasik said he could not recall an accident for which Lady Liberty was responsible.

Other trustees said they wanted to support small businesses - Charlie Nason, owner of the Liberty Tax Service in Fox River Grove, said the animated advertisement accounts for 70 percent of that outlet's new customers.

It turns out, there is no law on the books that specifically addresses human signs in Fox River Grove, Village President Robert Nunamaker said.

Creating one would thrust the village into the freedom of speech debate, and Nunamaker would rather not go there.

"It would be a complicated thing to get involved in issues of free speech," Nunamaker said. "She can stand there (for now) and it's not going to be a problem with us."