Council continues gaming liquor license discussion
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The Vandalia City Council discussed liquor licenses for gaming establishments at the Monday night, March 1 meeting.
After typical housekeeping duties, the council held a first reading of an ordinance for a Class J liquor license for Randy Meyer from Meyer Oil Co., for a gaming parlor.
Upon examination of the application for the license, coucilmen questioned the plans for the addition planned for the Mach 1 station, on the north side if Veterans Ave, just off of Route 51. Council members question the plans submitted with his application, asking about an entrance from inside of the station.
Meyer told the council the plans could be altered to allow for a door on the north side of the newly constructed parlor. He then asked if it was okay to have a serving window in between the gas station and the gambling parlor, in which one person could serve both areas of the business. Council Members explain that the Parlor had to stand alone, without any openings between the gas station and The Parlor.
Members told Meyer that according to the ordinance, no insurance whatsoever could be allowed between the two parts of the business.
Councilperson Dorothy Crawford explain to Meyer the council debated that particular issue last year and at that time, although she did not agree with it, decided not to allow such an establishment.
The council then moved on to address and Ordnance calling for an increase in the number of class J Liquor License is from 4 to 5.
In the ensuing discussion, the council debated moving to businesses who were included in a class J license to another class which would be more suitable for those businesses. In the event that this was approved, that action would free up two licenses in the class J, which could then be assigned out to the two applicants the city has,
According to councilman Steve Barker. Mayor Ricky Gottman said that the issue of a class J license increase was before the council and it could be discussed during a work session. Crawford’s suggestion the matter be tabled so that the council can work on both the class H and class J license is. The rest of the council agreed.
Later in the meeting Russ Stunkel asked if the entire council could be invited to that meeting. City Attorney Ryan Connor told the council that a notice of the meeting would have to be published in order for the entire Council to be invited. Uncle told the council that is the council raise the number of licenses to five “how can they say no to 6? 7?”
Gottman told Stunkel a meeting would be scheduled for next week.
Crawford expresses concerns
Under council members concerns, Dorothy Crawford expressed her frustration with the council over the past eight years she have served on the body where she had bit her tongue on two issues liquor licenses and Tif funding.
“Some of you act like you look down your noses at businesses. What kind of picture do you think this paints? Business owners are offended by some of the things you say to them and nutter under your breath,” she chided.
When asked about what business has been offended, she mentioned Mike Wehrle, who was also in attendance atthe meeting, as well as the prior one. After being asked as to whether he was offended by some of the remarks at the prior meeting, he said, “A little.”
A discussion was then held while the council and Crawford disagreed over the matter.
Other business
In other business, the council:
* approved the transfer of a lake lot from Jeremy Marx of Ramsey to Blaise Walker of Granite City;
* approved the closure of Fourth Street near the Old State Capitol for the Farmers Market this year;
* approved a resolution for street maintenance for this year;
* heard from Brosman the water and sewer committee will conduct a work session on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to discuss apartment buildings which are individually metered, and
* heard from stunkel that the lake will ne opening foe the year soon.