The Beach Park Village Board on Feb. 13, 2025, approved a settlement with Clear Channel that will remove the village's final two Clear Channel billboards, with one scheduled for removal Nov. 19, 2026, and the other Feb. 6, 2029.

Jim Ferrello, the village attorney, told the board the settlement is a compromise reached after years of attempts to remove off-site advertising. “The village does not allow billboards pursuant to the village code,” Ferrello said, noting changes in Illinois case law that make simple amortization periods insufficient and require a factual determination of “just compensation.” He said the agreement also includes a provision that would allow the village to seek an injunction and recover attorneys’ fees if Clear Channel fails to remove the structures on the agreed dates.

The settlement covers two Clear Channel structures in Beach Park; Ferrello said one removal date aligns with the end of an existing lease and the other date is a compromise that shortens the remaining lease life by four years. Ferrello said he and staff concluded Clear Channel appeared to have extended leases in response to prior notices and that the agreement avoids protracted and costly litigation.

Staff member Nimrod told the board that other off-site signs in the Sheridan Road area are not Clear Channel-owned. Nimrod said the property owner near “Gen G’s” has agreed to remove that sign by spring, weather permitting, and that the owner must remove it before an April adjudication hearing. Nimrod said the village is in ongoing discussions with the owner of the Gojo sign and expects to resolve removal after finalizing the Clear Channel agreement.

The board voted on the settlement by roll call after a motion to approve. The village also approved the consent agenda, which included the board minutes from Jan. 9 and bills presented for payment totaling $448,046.27.

The board heard additional staff remarks about a property on Green Bay Road where a barn removal project is complete; staff said the village will work with attorneys to place a lien for expenses and that a hearing related to the property is set for Feb. 28.