CHAMPAIGN â Local authorities are seeking temporary restraining orders against two local restaurants that are continuing to operate with suspended health permits.
Hearings have been set for Thursday for temporary restraining orders filed by the Champaign County Stateâs Attorneyâs Office against Lil Bufordâs, 102 N. Long St., Tolono, and by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Districtâs attorney, Ruth Wyman, against Merry-Annâs Diner, 1510 S. Neil St., C.
The health permits for both restaurants were suspended earlier this month after they continued to serve indoors in violation of a state order forbidding indoor service at bars and restaurants in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.
CHAMPAIGN â Merry-Annâs Diner now faces an administrative hearing before a city official for operating without a valid health permit from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.
City spokesman Jeff Hamilton said permits issued by the health district are linked to food-establishment licenses issued by the city, and restaurants in Champaign canât legally operate without both.
The health district suspended its permit for Merry-Annâs, 1510 S. Neil St., C, on Wednesday after the restaurant continued to serve patrons indoors in violation of statewide COVID-19 mitigation restrictions.
The suspension of the restaurantâs health permit has triggered an administrative hearing process before Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks, according to Hamilton.