Local store asks Manteno board to allow liquor sales; ordinance to be drafted

Miss Jordan asked the board to authorize liquor/package sales for her store so it can remain viable after a post-COVID drop in sales. "After COVID, that store kinda the sales cut in half," she told the board, saying adding liquor and beer sales is the primary reasoning to bring more customers into the village.

Administrator Chris Lorac explained the process for adding a license: the board must decide to generate or grant another liquor license, the item will be placed on the next board meeting agenda, and the board would formally vote at that meeting if they choose to proceed. Board members voiced support for allowing the store to compete with nearby gas stations; one member cited Casey's across the street as already offering package sales.

A board member asked Joe to draft an ordinance for the board to consider at the next meeting. The board confirmed the target meeting date as Monday, January 5; staff said that, if the board votes to adopt the ordinance at that meeting, the enactment would follow the next morning. No formal vote on issuance occurred during this meeting.

The board id not record any legal citation or statute during the discussion. Next steps are administrative: staff will prepare the draft ordinance and the board will take formal action at the scheduled meeting.