The Vandalia City Council took care of two alcohol-related items on its agenda during Monday night’s meeting. The council approved for Mayor Rick Gottman to sign a letter to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission regarding Witness Distillery. The letter states that the city will not require Witness to have a liquor license at this time as they will only be manufacturing and storing the distilled spirits at their location of 330 W. Gallatin Street and not selling any of their produced product until around January 1, 2020. The letter asks that the state at this time “set-aside this requirement until Witness Distillery, LLC, is selling package and/or drink at this premises and when other requirements are met to allow the Class 9, Craft Distiller Manufacturer License.” The council voted unanimously to authorize the mayor to sign the letter.
In other business, the council held a first reading for a Class E liquor license request. The liquor license application comes from Robert Richardson who plans to open a restaurant at the corner of Kennedy and Gallatin that most recently housed the Route 51 Restaurant. The restaurant that will be named “Anthony’s” would like to serve beer, wine and after dinner drinks. The council is expected to take a vote on the matter at its next council meeting.