Batavia considers raising liquor license application fee
Batavia wants to charge more for liquor license applications to shift the cost of processing on to applicants and off taxpayers.
“Alcohol is such a powerful kind of thing, the city should at least be repaid for the cost,” city administrator Bill McGrath said.
A higher fee also would separate serious businessmen from “the not-so-serious tire-kickers,” he wrote in a memo to the government services committee.
The committee voted Monday to recommend the change to the city council.
The city charges $25 per application; McGrath proposes raising that to $250.
North Aurora charges $100 per application, St. Charles $200, Wheaton $500, and West Chicago $300 for the first party on the form, $150 for additional people. North Aurora and St. Charles apply the fee toward the cost of the license, if a license is granted.
Last week, Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke told the city council at least 10 people had picked up application forms, stating they were interested in buying the Stop Lite Inn.
The Stop Lite, 105 E. Wilson St., is for sale.
“I’ve never in my years as mayor of this town seen one quite like this,” Schielke said. He said the city won’t process the applications unless someone submits proof they have a contract to buy the bar.
“It is almost silly to have all these people floating around here with liquor license applications for this building,” he said. “They get the idea and they get all enthused and then they get to the bank and it kind of crashes.”
One of the potential applicants is a 21-year-old college senior, Schielke said.
When somebody does apply, the city verifies whether they have insurance, a lease or ownership of the property, whether they are a citizen of the United States and whether they have previously been found guilty of violating state and federal liquor laws. The police department also does a criminal-background check.
“A liquor license is a valuable commodity, a serious business, and not a service provided for all citizens through their taxes,” McGrath wrote.