Journal Reporter

Residents who live near River Road and Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines may not enjoy the 4th of July fireworks as much as in previous years.

That's because the firework spectacular is being funded by a billboard company that lobbied the city about a year ago to allow more of the large signs.

Now, residents fear a new billboard near Touhy and River homes on the city's south side is causing their property values to plunge.

In April, 2003 an agreement between the city and billboard company Premere Outdoor Inc. the billboard company agreed to pay $25,000 annually to finance Des Plaines fireworks displays.

Last week, residents say they were caught unaware by a 99-foot tall billboard being installed near their homes.

Mayor Tony Arredia and Ald. Tom Becker (6th) are scheduled to meet with Touhy and River Road area residents to discuss the new billboard being erected near there. The meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 1 at the Police Neighborhood Resource Center, 1928 E. Touhy.

Former Des Plaines firefighter Jerry Peterson has lived in the area since 1964. He said the billboard is being constructed on property near a printing company 50 feet from a location that had earlier been rejected.

Peterson said the large billboard isn't fair to the people in the neighborhood. He also asked why the residents near the billboard were not informed of the coming signage.

"When I'm sitting at my dining room table, this is what I see," he said.

Apparently, there was an understanding that the billboard was not to be located on Touhy Avenue.

"So they just moved it over 50 feet to this place with a River Road address," Peterson said.

John Leone of Des Plaines said he'd like to have as many people as possible attending Thursday's meeting.

"I just want to let these people know there are probably six homes that lost about $30,000 each in the value of their house because of this sign," he said.

The billboard is made possible by a May 19, 2003 ordinance approved by the City Council.

Joe Loss of Premere Outdoor, Inc. could not be reached for comment by the Journal Monday.