The Des Plaines City Council voted this week to allow Viacom Outdoor Inc. to build five billboards along the Northwest and Tri-State Tollways, ending a longstanding contract dispute over rights to the signs.
Aldermen also voted during the Wednesday night meeting to continue contract negotiations with Lamar Advertising over five other billboards. In 2003, aldermen approved a 20-year deal worth almost $1 million that gave Premere Outdoor Inc. the right to build 10 billboards. Premere later sold them to Viacom and Lamar. Wednesday’s vote approved the transfer of rights for five billboards to Viacom.
Three of the billboards have been built, including a 98-foot sign that is about 100 feet from a house in the 2100 block of Estes Avenue.
Officials also approved lighting two billboards that face the Northwest Tollway.