BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The city of Bloomington, Ill., said it will not issue any more liquor licenses that allow gas stations and convenience stores to sell all types of alcohol, reported The Bloomington Pantagraph.
The city council eliminated the GPA licensewhich stands for gas station, package, all typesby a six-to-one vote at its meeting Monday, the report said.
For years, aldermen have suggested they were not interested in issuing any more GPA licenses. Assistant City Attorney Hannah Eisner told the newspaper that with only [image-nocss] four stores holding such licenses now, this would be an opportunity to make the city's moratorium on the GPA official.
Eisner said there are two businesses currently going before the liquor commission seeking to change from a GPB, a license for beer and wine only, to a GPA. Two more are considering applying for a GPA, she said. "This gives you a chance to make a clear ruling on this issue before you have someone who wants to persevere in making a challenge," she said.
Under the change approved by the council, the four current GPA license holders will be grandfathered until they sell their businesses. Previously, it was suggested they be grandfathered only until the end of the year when the licenses are up for renewal. That idea was rejected by the council.
Alderman Jim Finnegan voted against eliminating the GPA classification, saying there were no data showing there are problems. He pointed to data Alderman Karen Schmidt presented saying the four current licenseholders have either had no problems or only one license violation.
"Why are we designing a solution when there isn't a problem?" Finnegan asked.
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