By Todd Wineburner
Recommendations regarding liquor licenses were a key part of last night’s Pontiac City Council. In previous council meetings, some concerns had been raised about small businesses that obtain a liquor license, not to operate a traditional tavern, but to create a business that’s essentially a small casino that offers video poker and other legal gaming. The issue was taken up by the council’s infrastructure committee before Monday’s full council meeting, and 5th Ward Alderman Brian Gabor says the committee isn’t recommending any action at this time. He says one of the primary reasons is that the owners of these types of businesses in Pontiac have been completely responsible businesspeople. “They have complied 100 percent with what our ordinance says,” Gabor says, “and 100 percent with what the state statute provides.” Gabor said the owner of Lilly Mae’s, located on Howard Street in Pontiac, even attended the committee meeting to answer any questions and clarify any issues.
Gabor says there may be changes in zoning regulations to restrict the areas where gambling parlors can be located, but as there have been no misconduct issues related to these businesses, the committee recommended a “wait and see” approach for the time being. He says the committee members feel that legal gambling is something the state created, and, unless there’s some pressing need, it’s something the state should regulate. “The state legislature was the one that really put this law in place,” Gabor says, “and the committee thought ‘If the state legislature screwed up, it’s not our position to try and correct what the state legislature did.’”
The committee also took up the question of liquor licenses for caterers. Gabor says that’s going to require more work, because there’s currently no provision for allowing a catered event with liquor. That kind of event has been proposed for the Eagle Theater once renovations are complete, and Gabor says the lack of a practical ordinance is going to affect local providers as well as caterers from outside of Pontiac.
