Resident, village still at odds in Fox Lake

A Lake County Circuit Court Judge has fined the owner of a controversial Internet Web site $1,500 for illegally posting signs throughout Fox Lake.

Glenn Close, 50, of 37 Fairfax Lane in Fox Lake, was given the maximum fine on three local law violations in Waukegan court Wednesday morning, said Fox Lake Village Attorney Jeff Nutschnig.

Close was fined $500 each on two counts of illegally posting the signs "foxlakesux.com" without a permit. He was also hit with one count of criminal damage to property.

Close did not appear in court in Waukegan on the charges and did not immediately return phone calls for comment.

Because the charges are local, a warrant was not issued for his arrest for not appearing in court.

Close received local fame after creating the Internet Web site www.foxlakesux.com. He has been in numerous newspapers and on the radio countless times because of his Web site, which allows people the opportunity to complain about the village.

Fox Lake officials have been in and out of court with Close since his Web site first arrived on the scene.

Close said he originally opened the Web site because the village -- armed with a court order -- forcibly cleaned up his yard after 10 years of asking the resident to do it himself.

Close said, in retaliation, he started the Web site as a place for people to complain about the village and town elders.

During the cleanup, the village removed eight automobiles, two motorcycles, five snowmobiles among other items.

Nutschnig said the village and Close will be going to court again because the resident reclaimed some of the cars that were taken from his property when it was cleaned.

Nutschnig said Close ignored a court order and brought the vehicles back to his property and parked them outside.

"We think he is violating the court's order by not sheltering the vehicles," he said. "So, we are going back to have the cars removed again."