(File photo from Flickr/roundnoon)
By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council backed a compromise Monday night to end the more than year-long ban on issuing new video gaming licenses.
The ordinance limits the number of establishments with video gaming terminals at 60, meaning only eight more can be approved. City Attorney Jeff Jurgens described might happen when the moratorium is lifted September 16.
“The documents call for it to be a first-come, first-serve basis. It’s going to be whoever is in line when the clerk’s office opens at 8 (a.m.), and it might be one of those situations similar to where you file your nominating petitions with the State Board of Elections,” said Jurgens.
Only Council member Jenn Carrillo voted against the compromise. Carrillo said there wasn’t enough in the proposal for her to support it.
Last week, Carrillo wondered why the ordinance allows video gaming at liquor establishments, but not where marijuana might be sold.
Like all other license holders, large truck stops can have no more than five gaming machines, instead of 10.
Peter Pontius, Director of Loss Prevention and Compliance for B and B Amusement, runs gaming machines at the Pilot Truck Stop on West Market Street. He told the council it’s making a bad business decision by driving truckers out of town, and in the process turning down thousands of dollars in revenue that will instead go to neighboring communities.
“McLean, Lincoln, Maroa, Chenoa, Decatur, Farmer City, LeRoy, and the list goes on,” said Pontius.
“All those municipalities are going to have the ability to have 10 games at their large truck stops, which they all do. So, why are we allowing those dollars to leave Bloomington?
Mayor Tari Renner said he preferred to have market forces decide whether there’s too much video gaming, but he won’t exercise his veto power. Council member Kimberly Bray lauded the compromise.
“I don’t think everybody got everything they wanted in this, but I thought the process worked very well, and I’d like us to replicate this process for some other topics that are going to be coming up as well,” Bray said.
The council also cut in half the license fee for fraternal organizations to $250.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
