By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – Elected leaders in Normal are willing to consider imposing fines on businesses not complying with Restore Illinois COVID-19 guidelines.

The town council directed staff Monday night to draw up an ordinance imposing penalties against businesses violating the governor’s executive order by serving customers indoors, not practicing social distancing, or not requiring staff or patrons to wear masks.

Council members also want to reward what officials said were the vast majority of businesses who are compliant by offering them breaks on liquor license fees and other costs.

Council member Karyn Smith said she favored the “carrot” approach to encourage compliance.

Council member Kevin McCarthy said business owners he’s talked to favor fines because they want to level playing field in which all establishments have an equal chance of survival.

“They’re actually taking the money and food off the tables of servers and other businesses by being open, and raking in a bunch of money while it’s hit-and-miss on curbside and to-go,” said McCarthy.

Council member Kathleen Lorenz said on ideological grounds, she’s opposed to increased regulations because “it does feel like government getting in the way of business.”

However, she asked the council to set aside their political views.”

“These are not normal times. This is probably something that we’ll face once in a hundred years, so I think under these extraordinary circumstances, I would encourage my colleagues to think about this absent of any partisan and ideological views,” Lorenz said.

Council member Stan Nord said he did not like the idea of imposing fines on businesses. He said state government forcing local municipalities to enforce COVID-19 rules amounts to an “unfunded mandate.”

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].