Village approves retroactive sign permit for 8116 Archer Avenue, imposes additional fine

The Willow Springs Village Council voted to approve a retroactive sign permit for a business located at 8116 Archer Avenue and to assess an additional penalty for installing the sign before permits were pulled.

President Nedimier opened the discussion, noting the owner of the former MiWay Cafe was present. Village staff reported the sign application "fits" the village's size criteria but was installed prior to approval. The village administrator said the sign and electrical permit documents had been completed for consideration but that the sign had been put up without the permit and that other work on the site (paving/blacktop) would be handled separately through the village's adjudication process if necessary.

Trustees debated whether to simply approve the permit (the staff-listed permit and inspection fees total $360: $210 for the sign and $150 for the electrical) or to add an additional penalty. The building official explained the maximum adjudication penalty could be the fee doubled. After discussion an amended motion was offered to approve the sign permit and charge an additional $360 penalty; the motion was moved, seconded and passed by roll call (Trustee Ara: Aye; Kennedy: Aye; Micah: Aye; Moon: Aye). The village administrator asked the board to state the total amount to avoid later confusion; the board approved the permit and the stated penalty during the same motion.

The administrator reiterated that any alleged unpermitted pavement work (seal-coating/striping and an overlay over 3—4 parking spaces) is a separate enforcement matter and would follow the county's or village's adjudication/citation process, not this sign-permit approval.

The council recorded the motion as carrying and instructed village staff to proceed with charging the approved amounts and performing the formal inspection as required by code.