Mt. Prospect unhappy with new state sign rule

Mount Prospect officials are not happy with a new state statute that takes away their ability to set time limits on when people can display political signs.

Currently, a Mount Prospect ordinance prohibits residents from keeping the signs on private property two days past an election. The new rule eliminates that time restraint.

"So basically, people can put them up any time and remove them any time," Mayor Irvana Wilks said at Tuesday's village board meeting.

The rule goes into effect on Jan. 1 and affects only private property. Candidates and their supporters still won't be able to put signs on public property, Village Manager Michael Janonis said.

When political signs are put on public property, village officials take them down, Janonis said.

On Tuesday, the board deferred voting on the ordinance that would bring the village into compliance with the new legislation until officials can talk to Northwest Municipal Conference representatives. The board will revisit the topic again in September.

Trustee Steven Polit said the new state rule would clutter Mount Prospect streets.

"So if someone puts up 400 signs and keeps them there for four years, we can't take them down?" Polit said. "They would be on every corner."

Trustee Mike Zadel said state politicians have more important things to worry about.

"I have a difficult time understanding why our state legislators are wasting time with this when our state finances are in such horrible disarray," Zadel said. "It seems trivial to me."