Fox Lake might end Web site fight

In an effort to save money, a Fox Lake trustee has asked village to bury the hatchet with the owner of a controversial Web site.

Trustee Ed Bender said the village is spending too much money trying to prosecute Glenn Close, a resident of Eagle Point subdivision who owns and moderates the Web site www.foxlakesux.com.

Bender said the village is spending "thousands of dollars to collect hundreds of dollars" from Close, who has been prosecuted numerous times over the past decade for having a dilapidated yard and for posting signs promoting his Web site on village property without a permit.

"We talk about saving money, and we throw money at this thing all the time," Bender said. "It seems to me the only person making money on this fight is our attorneys."

Close and the village have been at odds for the past decade because of "junk" he collected on his property. The village eventually took the issue to court and obtained an order to remove truckloads of cars, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, and other items from Close's property.

Shortly after the cleanup, Close opened the Web site as a location where he and others could complain about village officials and politics.

Close has maintained that the village still holds on to some personal artifacts that he wants returned.

Close, who was at the meeting, said he was happy with the announcement.

"I'm glad they are finally trying to sit down with me and work this whole thing out," he said. "If I get my stuff back, the Web site will stay up, but I'll stop the signs and change the name of the site to something more positive for the village."

Most recently, Close was arrested and charged with criminal damage to village property, accused of hanging a sign without a permit outside of the village's 100th birthday party on Route 59.

Mayor Cindy Irwin remains miffed at Close, and took Bender to task for bringing the issue up.

"I think this was a totally asinine move on (Bender's) part," she said. "I can't believe he would bring this up. Bender is an extremely intelligent man, but he just did a very unintelligent thing."

Irwin did say during the public meeting, however, that she would sit down with Bender, Close, and police chief Mike Behan to try to work out the various parties' issues.

Behan said during the meeting that he has met with Close regarding the issues surrounding his property. He added he will continue to follow up with Close to try to keep the peace.

"Criminal proceedings take time, and this has been one criminal proceeding after another," Behan said.

Bender said it is time to stop spending money on prosecuting Close, and instead hold a meeting to work things out.

"I've checked with two or three people, and it seems to me all he wants is his tools and his lawn mower back," Bender said. "I say, give the stuff back and wash your hands with the whole issue."