McHenry Times

Village of Huntley Liquor Commission met May 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the commission:

CALL TO ORDER: 

A meeting of the Huntley Liquor Commission was called to order on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Complex, Village Board Room, 10987 Main Street, Huntley, Illinois 60142.

ATTENDANCE:


PRESENT: Chairman Charles H. Sass; Commissioners: Ronda Goldman, Timothy Hoeft, Niko Kanakaris, Harry Leopold, and John Piwko.

ABSENT: Commissioner JR Westberg

IN ATTENDANCE: Village Manager David Johnson, Management Assistant Barbara Read, Director of Public Works and Engineering Timothy Farrell, Project Engineer Scott Hajek, and Village Attorney John Cowlin.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: 

Chairman Sass stated that due to the Village Board meeting following the Liquor Commission, any approvals for the “K” License and Issuance of a “K” License to Village Vintner Winery will be conditional subject to the approval of the Special Use Permit to allow limited retail sales in the “M” Manufacturing District.

A. Consideration - An Ordinance Amending the Huntley Code of Ordinances – Business Regulations, Alcoholic Beverages Chapter 110 Section 110.24 − Limitation on Licenses − Adding one Class “K” License – Liquor Control Ordinance

Chairman Sass reported that the Village of Huntley regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages in the Village through its Liquor Control Ordinance, which provides for the issuance of certain classes of liquor licenses and establishes the number of licenses available in each class.

Staff Analysis
Consideration is being requested to amend the Liquor Control Ordinance to make available one (1) Class “K” license instead of zero (0) in order to provide for the application from Mr. Steve Boyer of D’Vine Wine Crafts LLC d.b.a. Village Vintner Winery (Vintner); 10679 Wolf Drive. The application has been reviewed by Staff and all is in order for consideration.

The Class “K” license was created in December 2018 after being informed by the State of Illinois Liquor Control Commission that the Vintner did not have a valid local liquor license to sell alcohol at the Wolf Drive location, which is where they manufacture wine and hold a federal basic permit as well. The applicant holds a brew pub license at 2380 Esplanade Drive in Algonquin. The State is now requiring the Vintner to obtain a local retailer’s license from the Village of Huntley for the Wolf Drive location in order to be compliant as a wine maker to provide wine to the Algonquin business for retail sale.

The Class “K” license shall only permit:

a) The retail sale of wine produced by the licensee on the licensed premises in sealed packages for off-premises consumption, all in connection with the licensee’s operation of a winemaking facility in compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations and licenses authorizing the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of wine. 


b) Retail sales on the licensed premises shall be limited to the hours of 12:00 p.m. through 11:00 p.m. 


The manufacturing district location of the Vintner on Wolf Drive, however, did not allow for retail sale. The Vintner petitioned the Village for a Special Use Permit for a winery to allow for the retail sale of wine. The petition was presented to the Plan Commission on May 13th and was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.

Financial Impact


The fee for a yearly Class “K” License is $1,500.00.

Legal Analysis

Section 110.24 of the Village Code of Ordinances limits the number of available licenses in each class. There is no available Class “K” license; therefore, if the Liquor Commission elects to issue a license to D’Vine Wine Crafters LLC, d/b/a Village Vintner Winery the Commission must create one (1) Class “K” license.

Chairman Sass asked the Liquor Commission if there were any comments or questions; there were none.

A MOTION was made to approve an Ordinance Amending the Huntley Code of Ordinances – Business Regulations, Alcoholic Beverages, Chapter 110, Section 110.24 – Limitation on Licenses, Adding one (1) Class “K” License – Liquor Control Ordinance. 

MOTION: Commissioner Leopold

SECOND: Commissioner Kanakaris

AYES: Commissioners: Goldman, Hoeft, Kanakaris, Leopold, and Piwko

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Commissioner Westberg

The Motion Carried: 5-0-1

B. Consideration - An Ordinance Approving the Issuance of a Class “K” Liquor License to D’Vine Wine Crafters LLC, d/b/a Village Vintner Winery; 10679 Wolf Drive

Chairman Sass reported that the Village of Huntley regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages in the Village through its Liquor Control Ordinance, which provides for the issuance of certain classes of liquor licenses and establishes the number of licenses available in each class.

Staff Analysis


The Village is in receipt of an application for a Class “K” liquor license from Mr. Steve Boyer of D’Vine Wine Crafters LLC d/b/a Village Vintner Winery (Vintner) to operate a winery with retail sale of wine produced on the premises.
As part of the application process the following items are required to be submitted:

§ Signed and notarized Application with Affidavit 

§ Payment of $1,500 Submitted


§ Applicant Profile Information Submitted


§ Registered Agent Profile Information Submitted 

§ Current Articles of Incorporation Submitted 

§ Current Lease / Deed Submitted


§ Certificate of Insurance including Best Policy Rating Submitted 

§ Surety Bond Submitted


§ State Liquor License


§ BASSET training information for employees Submitted 

All documents required have been submitted with the exception of the State Liquor License. This is not uncommon to be waiting on the State’s approval while asking for approval from the local Liquor Commission. The Liquor Commission can approve the Class “K liquor license with the condition of approval being that the Vintner must provide a certified copy (proof) that they obtained a State Liquor License before the Village’s liquor license becomes effective.

Financial Impact


The yearly fee of $1,500 for the liquor license has been received and deposited to 100-00-00-4320.

Legal Analysis


Section 110 of the Village Code of Ordinances regulates liquor sales in the Village. The application has been reviewed and is in compliance with Section 110: Alcoholic Beverages requirements.

Chairman Sass asked if the Liquor Commission had any comments or questions; there were none.

A MOTION was made to approve an Ordinance Approving the Issuance of a Class “K” Liquor License to D’Vine Wine Crafters LLC d/b/a Village Vintner Winery; 10679 Wolf Drive subject to the following condition of approval:


1. Petitioner must show proof of the State of Illinois Liquor Licenses before the Village of  Huntley Class “K” Liquor License becomes effective. 

MOTION: Commissioner Leopold

SECOND: Commissioner Hoeft

AYES: Commissioners: Goldman, Hoeft, Kanakaris, Leopold, and Piwko

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Commissioner Westberg

The Motion Carried: 5-0-1

EXECUTIVE SESSION: None


POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY CLOSED SESSION ITEMS: None 

OTHER BUSINESS: None


ADJOURNMENT: 

There being no further business to discuss, a MOTION was made to adjourn the hearing at 7:02 p.m. 

MOTION: Commissioner Piwko


SECOND: Commissioner Hoeft


The Voice Vote noted all ayes and the motion carried.