Geneva pub, Legion cited in underage serving sting
River Lane Pub and American Legion Post 75 face charges of selling alcohol to underage people June 25 in beer gardens they ran during the Swedish Days Festival in Geneva.
It is the second time River Lane, at 65 N. River Lane, has faced such charges. In 2007, Mayor Kevin Burns (who is also liquor commissioner) suspended the bar's license for one day and fined it $1,000, along with three other places that broke the law.
Geneva police sent two 19-year-old agents into places that sell or serve alcohol to see if they could buy beer. Business owners are warned in advance the Swedish Days check is coming, but not told the date.
City law for beer gardens requires a worker at all entrances and exits to identify people younger than 21. Those who are eligible to drink are to receive a stamp on their hand. At the American Legion, 22 S. Second St., both agents received hand stamps indicating they were old enough to drink, police said. At River Lane, wristbands were used to identify those 21 and older. One of the agents received a wristband.
Police reports say the bartenders told them, in both cases, that they assumed the men were at least 21 because security workers had given them the stamps and wristband. The door worker at the Legion told police officers that they misread the agents' driver's licenses.
River Lane bartender Therese E. Burns, 44, of the 700 block of Lincoln Avenue, and Legion bartender Thomas J. Kolecki, 58, of the 300 block of Colonial Circle, were given city tickets for sale of alcohol to a minor.
Burns is the estranged wife of the mayor.
In an interview Thursday, Mayor Burns said he wrote a letter several months ago to city administrator Mary McKittrick and city attorney Charles Radovich, recusing himself from any matters having to do with River Lane Pub "simply because" of his wife's connection to the pub and an owner. In February he appointed McKittrick as deputy commissioner.
Monday night, the city agreed to the appointment, and neither the mayor nor any aldermen mentioned the Swedish Days incident.
Hearing dates have not been set for the license holders. Mayor Burns said he will not attend the River Lane hearing.