WAPELLA — The Illinois Department of Transportation has ruled two billboards on Wapella’s northern edge are illegal and must be removed by Dec. 10.
Christine Reed, IDOT’s chief engineer and director of highways, issued a 30-day notice on Nov. 10 to WC Media Inc. of Springfield ordering removal of the signs that stand near U.S. 51 at the edge of Wapella. She ruled the department found false information was submitted to gain permission to build the signs.
In December 2009, a permit was issued to RHL Signs LLC of Springfield. The department’s investigation revealed another Springfield company, WC Media, was involved with the entire process of obtaining the permits and erecting and maintaining the billboards.
“From the time the permits were applied for until the present time, WC Media has been banned from obtaining new permits,” Reed wrote. “At the time of the application and erection of the signs, WC Media was not allowed to acquire new permits.”
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WC Media did not immediately return calls for comment.
The ruling came as good news to a group of Wapella business owners who had argued the signs violated the city’s zoning ordinance. The Wapella Village Board approved a zoning variance request from landowner Chris Bartells in August 2009 for construction of the signs, which went up in June 2010.
“I’ve just tried to make an honest living for 30 years,” said Richard Randall, owner of Randall’s Cabinets. “I located my business on the edge of Wapella in a great location, and then the village approves these mega billboards right next to it. There are zoning laws against that, and it’s not fair.”
The bottom edges of the 24-by-24-foot signs stand 30 feet off of the ground.
Randall said the signs obstruct the view of his business and several others at the edge of Wapella who formed a group, the Walnut Circle Business Owner’s Association, to oppose the billboards. The group argued its case with the Wapella Village Board and IDOT.
One of the advertisers, Country Insurance agent Kirk Neslund, said he signed a contract with WC Media in December 2009 and was surprised about the opposition to the signs.
“When I signed the contract, I had no idea there would be a conflict, and if I had any idea there was going to be a dispute, I never would have agreed to that location,” Neslund said. “No business wants to be associated with something controversial.”