Premere billboard company representatives informed the city that Premere sold five of its 10 billboard permits to Lamar Outdoor Advertising, one of the nation's largest billboard companies.

However, city officials are not sure that such a sale is legal, and the city has not cashed a total of $55,000 in checks from Lamar for annual fees.

"They can't assign another seven [permits] they have not applied for nor located," said City Attorney Dave Wiltse. "You can't assign something so incorporeal."

Wiltse said Premere representatives told him contrasting ownership scenarios, including one in which Premere had sold all of its assets.

Premere Outdoor, Inc. is now called Premere Media, Inc. The company has installed three billboards in Des Plaines.

Des Plaines is a prime location for billboards due to its location along several expressways servicing O'Hare Airport.

Billboard permits cost petitioners $15,000 a year in "impact fees" and $3,000 a year in inspection fees for each location. Premere is also giving Des Plaines a $25,000 donation for three years to fund the Des Plaines Fireworks.

Des Plaines residents have voiced strong opposition to the billboards already in place.

"I'd like to see the city take a position so we can get rid of billboards," Ald. Don Smith (7th) said.

"I don't think we can stop it, although I'd like to see us try," said Ald. Tom Becker (6th).

Legal & Licensing committee members agreed to hold off on allowing Viacom, which appears to be under contract with Premere, to tear down the current billboard at 2720 South River Rd. and install a new sign.

The site's billboard permit has expired.

"When a grandfathered billboard license is expiring, that's it," said Smith. "There's no automatic right to rebuild. They can file for a permit and come before the council again."

The officials agreed against issuing any permits at this time and plan to confirm the location's future permit holder.

Committee members also discussed billboard lighting regulations. Lamar representatives are concerned that billboard spotlights mandated no further than 14 inches from the sign surface coupled with a three ft. catwalk in front of a billboard might violate safety standards.

Committee members decided to have city staff study whether the Illinois Dept. of Transportation's (IDOT's) permitting process addresses the issue through its own lighting regulations.

Billboard petitioners must obtain a permit from IDOT as well as the city to obtain a permit lease.