McHenry County Waiving Liquor Ordinance And Fee Provisions To Help Small Businesses

Press release from the McHenry County Government:

WOODSTOCK, Ill. – McHenry County is suspending certain ordinances and waiving liquor license renewal fees to assist bars and restaurants struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The County Board at its Tuesday evening meeting extended its moratorium on enforcing ordinances regulating or restricting serving food and alcohol outdoors. Also, County Board Chairman Mike Buehler, in his capacity as county liquor commissioner, will grant businesses with Class A liquor licenses for on-premises serving a waiver of their renewal fees, providing they meet certain conditions.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, and the mitigations imposed by the state to slow its spread, are devastating restaurant and dining establishments,” Buehler, R-Crystal Lake, said. “While we are imploring people to shop and dine locally to help our small business community, McHenry County owes it to them to remove whatever burdens it can.”

Tuesday’s vote extended a moratorium the County Board granted in June, which suspends portions of the county Unified Development Ordinance and Liquor Control Ordinance until state restrictions are lifted enough to allow at least 75 percent indoor seating. The new extension takes the enforcement moratorium to June 30 or the resumption of a minimum 75 percent seating, whichever comes first.

Buehler directed staff this week to draft a letter to holders of Class A liquor licenses for bars and restaurants in unincorporated McHenry County offering those who have paid their 2020 renewal fees a waiver of their 2021 renewal fees. License holders who have not yet paid their 2020 renewal fees are encouraged to do so before the Dec. 31 deadline to keep their licenses valid and in compliance. Those license holders would then be required to pay the renewal by the normal April 30, 2021 deadline to avoid having to reapply for their licenses in full.

Also, McHenry County is currently administering two grant programs to help small business cope with the economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

The Small Business Transformation Grant gives qualifying businesses grants of between $15,000 and $50,000 to help them transform their business model or shift operations toward profitability in response to the hardships of the pandemic. The Immediate Business Relief Grant Program offers $15,000 grants to small businesses in the accommodations, food service, arts, entertainment, and recreation sectors. Eligibility criteria and application information for both grants can be found on the McHenry County Community Development Department webpage, which can be found here. The deadline to apply for both grants is Thursday, Dec. 31, so businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

As a reminder, McHenry County businesses of all sizes, and their employees, can find a one-stop shop for COVID-19 resources at www.resumemchenrycounty.com.

This press release was produced by the McHenry County Government City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.