Charlie Schlenker / WGLT
Bloomington Police officer Nolan Arjona testified he saw patrons eating and drinking inside the G.E. Road establishment the afternoon of Nov. 28 when police did a compliance check.
Attorney Tom DeVore argued the city had no authority to use the liquor code to enforce the governor’s executive order because it is not a regulation as specified under the code.
“This body has no jurisdiction to impede the department of health’s authority to make a premises off limits to the public. It’s their jurisdiction only,” said DeVore.
City Attorney George Boyle contested the point, saying a plain language meaning indicates the order is a regulation. Boyle also cited Black’s Law Dictionary. He said the liquor commission can impose penalties for several non-liquor offenses including the commission of crimes, and illegal gambling inside such a business.