New liquor license to be created for
Walgreens
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
After lengthy discussion, the Chatham Village Board withdrew an ordinance that would have
granted a Class C liquor license to Walgreens.
Instead, village attorney John Myers will work on a new license, termed a "limited package"
license, after he and village officials determined that Walgreens did not fit under "convenience store"
or "grocery store" terminology.
The new license would still permit only packaged beer and wine to be sold, but the village could
also impose further limitations, such as no drive-thru sales.
The determination came after five Glenwood High School students spoke out against Walgreens
being granted a liquor license, along with comments from Anita Bedell, a Chatham resident who also
serves as the Executive Director of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems in
Springfield.
Village officials were able to address some of the group's concerns, stating that single cans of 12-
ounce beer could not be sold, but under the definition of package liquor, the smallest unit that could
be sold is 24 ounces.
Still, it appeared that the board was ready to approve the license before it was determined that a
new or revised category had to be created first.
After discussion, Myers determined that the board either had to create a new classification for
Walgreens, or change the definition of "convenience," which currently means an store that also sells
motor fuel, like a gas station.
•And in a related matter, Mayor Tom Gray asked the board to consider reducing by one the number
of Class C liquor licenses in the Village, due to the closing of Chatham Gas (BP station). That
establishment has also had its liquor license revoked by the state. It is still unclear if the store will re-
open or be sold.
The issue will be researched further to determine if the liquor license for Chatham Gas was
renewed for this year, or has expired.
•The board also passed an ordinance dealing with $200,000 in outstanding bills from the new
substation project. Debt certificates will be issued, to be paid back over a five-year period.
Village officials were visibly upset with the move, but had no choice but to pass the ordinance (6-1
vote, Mau no). The original management company on the project, PCI (which has since been sold),
did not inform the village of all of its invoices that needed to be paid.
"We're not arguing the charges," Village Manager Del McCord stated. "It's for legitimate work that
needed to be done. We just should have known about this stuff six months ago."
The overall project has ballooned to over $5 million, more than $1.2 million more than original
projections, but village officials said the increase was due to a number of design changes that had to
be addressed, along with other required items.
•The board approved an annexation agreement with the Ball-Chatham School District, annexing
the 140-plus acres of land the school district recently purchased adjacent to Glenwood High School.
The move has been expected all along in the process.
•The board tabled proposed intergovernmental agreements with the school district and Chatham
Township. The agreement with Ball-Chatham will be discussed further at the committee level, and
involves the village extending electricity, water and sewer to the new elementary school that is slated
to open in August 2011.
There are details that still need to be worked out, officials said, and the agreement will involve the
extension of Acacia Lane and sidewalks and who will pay for the work.
The agreement with Chatham Township involves the two entities working together to help each
other should the need arise. This could involve assistance with billing or clerical work, among other
items, trustee Chuck Herr stated. It will also be discussed further at the committee level.
•Chatham Police Chief John Holm reiterated the fact that he is requesting an additional officer be
hired for the department, and village officials are working on the FY 2011 budget to see if the request
can be granted.
Holm said there are days when there is only one officer available to cover the midnight shift, and
he would like there to be at least two officers on duty at all times in the village. The issue does not
come up every day, and mostly happens on weekends, but he added that Chatham is becoming too
big to have an officer working alone at any time.
Holm said the number of calls for service is increasing, particularly during the day shift, and that
while there are fewer calls overnight, many of those types of calls are "more serious," he added.
If the hiring of a new officer is approved and Holm is able to select from the next State Police
Academy class that graduates in April, it would take approximately 30 weeks from that point to get an
officer to be working on their own in the Village. Holm added that the three officers hired last summer
are all on the street and able to work on their own now.
•The board also passed a resolution staggering the terms for the representatives on the Chatham
Planning Commission, making them expire one-third at a time to prevent major wholesale changes
taking place, which could happen if all the terms expired at the same time.
The board honored the service of Patricia Boyce on the Planning Commission. Boyce has retired
after 19 years of service.
•Village committee meetings will be held next Tuesday, Feb. 2, beginning at 6 p.m. with Public
Properties.
Walgreens
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
After lengthy discussion, the Chatham Village Board withdrew an ordinance that would have
granted a Class C liquor license to Walgreens.
Instead, village attorney John Myers will work on a new license, termed a "limited package"
license, after he and village officials determined that Walgreens did not fit under "convenience store"
or "grocery store" terminology.
The new license would still permit only packaged beer and wine to be sold, but the village could
also impose further limitations, such as no drive-thru sales.
The determination came after five Glenwood High School students spoke out against Walgreens
being granted a liquor license, along with comments from Anita Bedell, a Chatham resident who also
serves as the Executive Director of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems in
Springfield.
Village officials were able to address some of the group's concerns, stating that single cans of 12-
ounce beer could not be sold, but under the definition of package liquor, the smallest unit that could
be sold is 24 ounces.
Still, it appeared that the board was ready to approve the license before it was determined that a
new or revised category had to be created first.
After discussion, Myers determined that the board either had to create a new classification for
Walgreens, or change the definition of "convenience," which currently means an store that also sells
motor fuel, like a gas station.
•And in a related matter, Mayor Tom Gray asked the board to consider reducing by one the number
of Class C liquor licenses in the Village, due to the closing of Chatham Gas (BP station). That
establishment has also had its liquor license revoked by the state. It is still unclear if the store will re-
open or be sold.
The issue will be researched further to determine if the liquor license for Chatham Gas was
renewed for this year, or has expired.
•The board also passed an ordinance dealing with $200,000 in outstanding bills from the new
substation project. Debt certificates will be issued, to be paid back over a five-year period.
Village officials were visibly upset with the move, but had no choice but to pass the ordinance (6-1
vote, Mau no). The original management company on the project, PCI (which has since been sold),
did not inform the village of all of its invoices that needed to be paid.
"We're not arguing the charges," Village Manager Del McCord stated. "It's for legitimate work that
needed to be done. We just should have known about this stuff six months ago."
The overall project has ballooned to over $5 million, more than $1.2 million more than original
projections, but village officials said the increase was due to a number of design changes that had to
be addressed, along with other required items.
•The board approved an annexation agreement with the Ball-Chatham School District, annexing
the 140-plus acres of land the school district recently purchased adjacent to Glenwood High School.
The move has been expected all along in the process.
•The board tabled proposed intergovernmental agreements with the school district and Chatham
Township. The agreement with Ball-Chatham will be discussed further at the committee level, and
involves the village extending electricity, water and sewer to the new elementary school that is slated
to open in August 2011.
There are details that still need to be worked out, officials said, and the agreement will involve the
extension of Acacia Lane and sidewalks and who will pay for the work.
The agreement with Chatham Township involves the two entities working together to help each
other should the need arise. This could involve assistance with billing or clerical work, among other
items, trustee Chuck Herr stated. It will also be discussed further at the committee level.
•Chatham Police Chief John Holm reiterated the fact that he is requesting an additional officer be
hired for the department, and village officials are working on the FY 2011 budget to see if the request
can be granted.
Holm said there are days when there is only one officer available to cover the midnight shift, and
he would like there to be at least two officers on duty at all times in the village. The issue does not
come up every day, and mostly happens on weekends, but he added that Chatham is becoming too
big to have an officer working alone at any time.
Holm said the number of calls for service is increasing, particularly during the day shift, and that
while there are fewer calls overnight, many of those types of calls are "more serious," he added.
If the hiring of a new officer is approved and Holm is able to select from the next State Police
Academy class that graduates in April, it would take approximately 30 weeks from that point to get an
officer to be working on their own in the Village. Holm added that the three officers hired last summer
are all on the street and able to work on their own now.
•The board also passed a resolution staggering the terms for the representatives on the Chatham
Planning Commission, making them expire one-third at a time to prevent major wholesale changes
taking place, which could happen if all the terms expired at the same time.
The board honored the service of Patricia Boyce on the Planning Commission. Boyce has retired
after 19 years of service.
•Village committee meetings will be held next Tuesday, Feb. 2, beginning at 6 p.m. with Public
Properties.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Jan. 28, 2010