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No rule change in McLouth

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jan 21, 2009

The required minimum distance from a church or school to a restaurant serving alcohol, according to city regulations in McLouth, will remain at 1,000 feet.

A special election, held Jan. 6, determined that the law would remain unchanged.

The ballot question centered on changing the distance from a church or school to an establishment serving liquor from 1,000 feet to 200 feet. The measure failed, 104-90.

Theresa Saxton, owner of Masterfarm in McLouth, successfully filed the petition to put the issue to a vote. She gathered 129 valid signatures — 104 were needed to put the question on a ballot — but neither number of votes translated into the same number come election day.

Saxton’s restaurant, on Union Street in downtown McLouth, is 570 feet from First Baptist Church of McLouth and 390 feet from Pathway of Life Church, Nicole Willits, McLouth city clerk, said.

Saxton had hoped the ordinance would be changed so she would be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages at her restaurant, Willits said.

Although Jefferson County has not yet billed the city for the election, Willits said a county official said the estimated cost is $1,200 to $1,500.