City council gets first read on new liquor plan

Mayor Guy Alongi Monday shared his thoughts with commissioners for his plans to rewrite the city's liquor ordinance. Here are those thoughts at this writing.

1.Liquor licenses will be $1,500 per year for all licenses except video gaming parlors and they will be $2,000 per year. If the establishment has video surveillance then the license will be $1,000 for all licenses and $1,500 for video gaming parlors. All licenses will remain at $1000 until renewal on June 1, 2017 at which time the new fees will kick in as that gives everyone one year to install video surveillance if they wish to get the discounted rate. Wine-only license only at the fairgrounds will be $300 per year. All new businesses requesting a liquor license after the approval date of this ordinance will be required to install video surveillance as part of their operation.

2. There will be a change to the following symbol for a license.

(A) Will now be a (T) for Tavern ( Maximum of 12).

(B) Will now be a (P) for Package Liquor (Maximum of 11).

(C) Will now be a (O) for Organizations (Maximum of 6).

(D) Will now be a (F/B) for Fairgrounds Beer Only (Maximum of 1).

(F) Will now be an (R) for Restaurant ( Maximum of 7).

(G) will now be a (BP) for Brew Pub (Maximum of 3)

(VGP) Video Gaming Parlor (Maximum of 2) NEW

(F/W) for Fairgrounds Wine Only (Maximum of 2) NEW

3. Special Event daily licenses will be $50 per day for a maximum of three continuous days.

4. Hours of operation will be unchanged except for the two Sundays of the Du Quoin fiar. There will be NO approval of additional operational hours.

5. Liquor license holders who have video surveillance will be required to maintain such equipment in operational order and will be inspected by the Du Quoin Police Department before a license or a renewal license is issued. During an investigation, if it is found that the surveillance equipment is not operational, the owner will be given seven days in which to correct the matter.

If at the end of the 7 days the equipment isn't operational the owners will be given an additional 5 days to correct the matter.

If at the end of the 12 days the equipment isn't operational the owner will show proof that the equipment will be operational within 18 days. After 30 days have passed and the equipment is not operational the city will fine the owner $500.00 and the owner will have to show at the next renewal their equipment is operational in order to receive the $500.00 discount for having surveillance in their liquor establishment.

6. In order to sell liquor by the drink or at a package liquor establishment you must be 18 years of age. If the establishment has Video Gaming you can be 18 years of age to sell but someone must be on sight and 21 years old supervising the business. (This is Per State Law)