New rules for tobacco dealers

Elders created additional hoop for future tobacco dealers to jump through, gave the city center bar owner permission to sell take-out beer and spirits, and expressed concern about the treatment of old street festival.

Here are some highlights from Monday’s City Council meeting::

Tobacco change: Alderman voted 10-3 to adopt changes to the city’s requirements for licensing of tobacco store. Looking ahead, companies wishing to license tobacco will have to go through a process similar to those looking for a liquor license. Tobacco license applicants must now have a public hearing on the request and the neighbors will be notified of the request.

The Liquor Advisory Council is the city’s Liquor Tobacco Advisory Council. It will hold the public hearings and make recommendations on pending tobacco applications to City Council.

The change does not affect businesses that already have tobacco licenses.

Police shooting: Mayor Larry Morrissey took a moment to thank the Rockford Police Department and Winnebago County Integrity Task Force for processing fatal officer involved shooting last week, Logan Bell, 18.

“That’s why we developed Integrity Task Force to be able to pick up in these very difficult situations,” he said. “I want to thank all of the participating institutions under the State Police for their work in that effort.”

Ald. Linda McNeely, D-12, offered her condolences to the family of Bell. She said that she heard from a number of people who have questions and concerns. McNealy said the acquisition is planned to discuss the number of shootings in Rockford, in particular, the number of black people who were shot.

Waterfront storage woes: Ald. Doug Mark, R-3, told the council and staff that he was concerned about the comments of Public Works Director Tim Hanson in the newspaper on the waterfront.

“We worked with the Waterfront for 29 years. We funded it in the past as much as a quarter of a million dollars, because it was a secondary economy back to the city,” he said. “The economy the way it is, I understand that we can not do that. … But I’m not sure that we really have to throw your things out right now. “

Anne Thompson, Kelly, D-7, said that after talking to Hanson, she felt comfortable with the position of the city. “He did not evict them. They even agreed to that date.”

Transfer of craft beer: After weeks of pleading his case to the mayor’s office, Kryptonite owner Chris Wachowiak was approved by the city authorities to change the liquor license so that it can enter the craft beer and high sales of liquor.

The license modification allows Wachowiak sell beer and liquor at special events and take-out basis. Eventually, he hopes to open a retail space next to the bar.

Aldermen had some discussions about other places where it is allowed and whether the change will be prioritized. In the end, they gave him a voice vote.

Auto Show rain date: Frank Beach, R-10, asked for permission to rock shows Bowl cars on Miracle Mile arrange the event on October 20. The event was to be October 13, but was rain all day, and organizers are asked to give it another go this weekend.

IML Conference: Morrissey and other representatives of the city will come to Chicago to attend the annual conference of the Illinois Municipal League this week.