DIXON — Citing gaming concerns, the Dickson City Council on Monday rejected a proposed city ordinance amendment that would have increased the number of D and D1 liquor licenses to 18.
The 3-2 vote comes after the council introduced an ordinance amendment motion at its March 18 meeting that would increase the number of D and D-1 liquor licenses that allow alcohol to be served on premises from 17 to 18. It was conducted. Hometown Pantry, a 23-year-old business in Dixon, primarily sells packaged liquor to-go, but now hopes to offer pouring and serving in-store.
Ahead of the vote, some city councilors questioned whether more gaming machines were needed or should be added to the 149 already in operation in the city. So on Monday night, a majority of City Council members voted down the additional liquor license. That would allow the store, located at 110 East 7th Street, to apply for a gaming license with the state.
“I respect businesses in our community that are trying to innovate their business models to more productive ones, but I also understand that it has to evolve. I respect that,” said City Councilwoman Mary Orosz. “The problem I have with this is not because of our business community, the problem I actually have to choose from lies in the state of Illinois.”
He said the state has tied liquor licenses to gaming licenses, and once a liquor license is issued to a business, it can then apply to the state for a gaming license. The city has no control over whether companies obtain gaming licenses.
“I think at some point we as a community have to decide what we’re comfortable with, what we like, what we want to see in our corner of the community,” Orosz said. “I have a very hard time having to choose between this and that, because I really don’t think we should have to do that. That’s exactly how the state has modeled this. ”
“So for me, I’m trying to make the most of the space, and I just can’t find it there,” she says. “It pains me to do that because I recognize that companies are doing their best to consider different business models. Conditions may force them to do so, but I just want to I don’t feel like getting a construction permit for a business.”Based on the size of it, the location will help it. ”
Regarding the request, City Councilor Dennis Considine said the gaming issue was the “elephant in the room.” He said he doesn’t want to seem like he’s trying to be a moral compass, but he plans to vote no because he hears many voters don’t want another gambling environment in their communities. Ta.
According to Considine, companies don’t actually want outsource licenses, they want outsource licenses to get game licenses. “It gave me a little bit of a boost, too,” he said.
City Councilman Mike Benier said he wants to make clear he has no intention of preventing new restaurants from coming to town, and that the council is prepared to grant requests to establishments that derive a larger percentage of their income from food sales. He said there is. To alcohol sales. As such, he does not want to issue liquor pouring licenses to establishments that primarily sell liquor to-go.
Mayor Glenn Hughes, who supported the bill, told the council that the recent liquor license application comes as Hometown Pantry seeks to adjust its business model based on how its location develops its business. he said.
Hughes also reminded council that at some point, presumably before 2016, the city granted an injection permit to another export facility. According to City Council discussion, the facility is equipped with game consoles.
Ultimately, Hughes and City Councilman Chris Bishop voted in favor of the request. Mr. Oros, Mr. Venier, and Mr. Considine voted against it.