Liquor sales were on the agenda Monday for the River Forest village board. And while the board made one modest change in the current ordinance by allowing liquor displays to expand a bit, it did not take action on a last minute proposal to extend the hours for liquor sales in local stores.
Trustee Steve Dudek asked the board to consider extending liquor sale hours slightly to capitalize on Sunday morning sales.
A representative from Jewel-Osco’s parent company had requested that the chain’s Lake Street store be allowed to feature liquor other than micro-brewed beer and wine in special displays within the store. The current ordinance says that all other types of liquor must be confined to the liquor department. The revised ordinance would allow Baileys Irish Cream, for example, to be included in Christmas displays. The board agreed to amend the ordinance.
Dudek suggested extending liquor sale hours as well, saying that other communities had increased their hours of sale and that River Forest could capitalize on tax revenue that might leave the village if liquor buyers go elsewhere. He proposed matching liquor sale hours with store hours.
Currently the River forest Jewel opens at 6 a.m. every day. However, liquor cannot be sold until after 9 a.m. The liquor department gate closes at 10 p.m while the store does not close until 1 am.
Sunday morning is now the most heavily shopped day, as opposed to Saturday, said the Jewel representative. The local Jewel does not have any different hours for Sunday liquor sales. Whole Foods Market also sells liquor in River Forest. Walgreens just applied for a liquor license to sell alcohol.
Other trustees didn’t like the idea of selling liquor any later than is already done.
“In the morning they’re preparing for a party as opposed to guys that are reloading [at night],” said Trustee Mike Gibbs.
Attorney Lance Malina said he would write a proposed ordinance and present it to the board.
In other business, the board agreed to contract with Edwin Hancock Engineering Co. to pay up to $22,300 to oversee street improvements in 2011 –- especially repaving Thatcher Avenue. River Forest received a $100,000 grant from Illinois Jobs Now that must be spent for street improvements and can be used for the design and planning process.
The board approved the request of Philip Cotter, interim director of Public Works for 142 streetlights in the TIF district to be replaced with low-energy LED lights. These would be on: Hawthorne Avenue, Madison Street, Washington Street, Thatcher Avenue (between Madison and Hawthorne) and Lathrop (between Madison and Hawthorne.) The lights cost $165, 889, but $59,350 would come from budgeted TIF funds and $100,000 from grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contract was awarded to H & H Electric Company of Franklin Park.