Published: May 28, 2008 11:13 am      

Council postpones vote on 110 liquor license

CLINTON — The Clinton City Council opted Tuesday night to postpone a vote on the renewal of Club 110’s liquor license.

At-Large Councilman Mark Vulich offered a motion to postpone the vote on the license renewal until the June 10 council meeting, saying the move would give the council time to consider options the city has for possible action or sanctions against the bar after an incident at the bar in April.

The debate over the bar’s license began after an incident on April 20, during which fighting broke out and multiple officers from Clinton, Camanche, and Fulton, Ill., as well as county deputies were called to respond; 40 to 50 people were involved in the incident.

The City of Clinton Rules and Regulations Committee last week agreed to recommend renewal of Club 110’s liquor license, determining that the bar’s owners, Gary Sawyer and Gordon Carroll, had done nothing wrong and should not be penalized for the actions of others.

Vulich on Tuesday night noted postponing the renewal would not stop the bar from functioning after the liquor license expires on May 31, pending council action. City Clerk Deb Neels agreed that Club 110 could continue to operate until the council takes action on the license.

The council approved adopted several ordinances that amend the city code, including three ordinance amendments changing references from the Planning/Community Development Director or Zoning Administrator to the Building and Neighborhood Services Director and references from the Public Works Department to the BNS Department in the Dangerous Building Ordinance, Chapter 147, and also would amend ordinances regarding wireless communication towers, Chapter 2097, and zoning regulations, Chapter 165.

The council also adopted ordinance amendments that add of a distance of 300 feet to the city noise ordinance, prohibit overnight camping in city parks unless authorized by city officials and change the zoning classification of Tract Three of the Mill Creek Crossing subdivision to R-2, two family residential.

The council unanimously approved the first consideration of ordinance amendments that add a chapter to the city code to define the finance department and amend an ordinance that defines the position of city clerk. The council approved the first consideration of an ordinance amendment reflecting different requirements for the installation of a sprinkler system in facilities that serve alcoholic beverages, by a vote of 6 to 1 with Fourth Ward Councilman Paul Gassman voting no.

No comments were heard during two public hearings on Tuesday night, including one concerning the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the South 14th Street Paving Project and a second public hearing concerning proposed amendments to the fiscal year 2007-2008 city operating budget.

Following the public hearings, the council approved the proposed budget amendments and a resolution accepting a bid and awarding the South 14th Street Paving Project contract to Eastern Iowa Excavating for $526,340.15. City Administrator Gary Boden noted that the project estimate came in at $615,000 and city officials “feel real good” about the bid received.

The council also approved resolutions:

• separating the position of city clerk and treasurer and defining the position of finance director with city treasurer duties;

• establishing the executive administrative assistant/assistant city clerk position in the Administration Department;

• approving McClure Engineering’s supervision of engineering staff under the terms of the existing agreement;

• expressing support for the Historical Education Plaque for the Clinton Library in order for the Clinton County Historical Society to apply for a REAP/RHDP grant;

• approving reorganization in the Clinton Fire Department that would eliminate the rank of captain and increase the number of lieutenant and firefighter positions; and

• authorizing the creation of a Citizens’ Storm Water Management Advisory Committee.