10-day graffiti grace period

There's a new rule for graffiti in Glen Ellyn: remove at your own risk.

Quickly.

Monday night, village board officials approved an ordinance that that requires property owners to remove graffiti within 10 working days of the date a notice is issued. Previously, the village's public works department would remove the vandalism, but because sometimes there is a shortage in staffing or employees are afraid of damaging property, officials decided it would be best if property owners take complete responsibility of graffiti.

Property owners may request more time by showing proper cause -- such as weather, temperature, availability of chemicals or physical limitations -- to the village's police department.

The code will be applied toward all property types in town, and if residents exceed the time limit given, they'll be fined between $100 and $500.

"This just gives us some teeth to get people to remove it," Glen Ellyn Police Chief Phil Norton said.

The village's public works department also will be required to remove graffiti on public property within 10 working days.

"We're not holding anyone to a higher standard than we're holding ourselves," Norton said.

There has been community interest in having criminal damage removed in a timely fashion, and this is the village's first code on graffiti, Norton said.

The ordinance is in effect as of today, and if residents need advice on how to remove graffiti or where to go for services, they're encouraged to call the village's police department at (630) 469-1187.