Streamlining Liquor License Process

I see the council is moving ahead with its plan to streamline the process by which a restaurant or bar gets a liquor license, possibly by eliminating the review function of the liquor advisory board. It doesn't appear there was much announcement of the plans to modify the function of the LAB, since LAB chair Don Monty didn't know the council had plans to look at the function of the LAB. If the chair of the board didn't know about plans to modify its function, it's a pretty good bet the rest of the community didn't know either. As Monty noted, when looking at the agenda, it wasn't particularly clear which agenda item related to the proposed revamping of the LAB.

Letter to the Board

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce sent the following letter to the SIU BOD:

An Open Letter to the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees

As representatives of the Carbondale business community, we hold a keen interest in the happenings and discussions at Southern Illinois University. We are paying special attention to Chancellor Carlo Montemagno’s plans for reorganization and restructuring of the University.

As the largest economic engine not only for Carbondale but for all of Southern Illinois, what happens at the University – its successes in all areas (enrollment, research, athletics, cultural and artistic endeavors and more) as well as its shortcomings – affect us all. In recent years, the continuing freefall in enrollment has negatively impacted most of our businesses, even forcing many once-profitable enterprises out of business.

There is no doubt that Chancellor Montemagno’s plan is challenging and ambitious. We believe that the time for action is now. Reorganization must not wait for extended, lengthy discussion, reviews and inaction. With years of declining enrollments and numerous leadership changes, the University, the city and region and our businesses cannot afford any delay.

Something must be done, sooner than later. The time for study, posturing and inaction is over. We stand with the Chancellor and his proposed plan and will do everything in our ability to support him and Southern Illinois University.

Board of Directors

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce

Me, I am still not sold on the need for re-organization as the cure for what ails SIUC. Of course, my background is marketing, so I am admittedly biased, but SIUC needs to do a lot better job of marketing itself in the southern Illinois region. When you have a situation where every university in the region, except SIUC, sends representatives to a recruiting opportunity at CCHS, there is not an organizational problem, there is a recruiting problem 

Liquor License Process Modification

Among the agenda items for tomorrow night's City Council meetings is this one calling for modification to the ordinances regarding the Liquor Control Commission in order to streamline the process by which a liquor license gets approved by the city. Of all the problems faced by Carbondale, it seems speeding up the means by which more people can sell liquor doesn't rank very high up there.

Cheerleaders at MLK Breakfast

The univeristy respects what the cheerleaders did, still moved them off the field and out of view of the crowd

March to the Polls

In case you plan to participate in the March to the Polls tomorrow, here is the schedule, courtesy of the Sierra Club:

11:00 a.m. - Welcome and March Lineup. INSIDE Carbondale Civic Center - please be here to make signs, get excited for the march, learn the route and hear important information about the day!

12:00 p.m.- March! (But be early!)

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Table fair and getting involved forum. Carbondale Civic Center. Learn about Women United Network's 10 Actions that will lead to a successful election year. Hear from inspirational speakers. Meet local organizations and get involved in your community.

2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Concert/Rally at Hangar 9 with Loose Gravel, Free Range Chicks, & Honey & Tar. Time to celebrate!

Restaurant Tax

Was talking with someone this morning about business in Carbondale and he made a point of saying that the food and beverage tax drives him away from eating in Carbondale when he comes here to shop. He will make purchases at the stores but chooses to leave the city to eat rather than pay a "1% tip to the city" as he put it.

Carbondale Board of Tourism Meeting

The Carbondale Tourism Board of Directors will meet, with the City Council in attendance, on Jan. 18 at 5:30 in the city council chambers at the Civic Center, This might be a good opportunity to ask questions about the rebranding, new logo or planning for the next Eclipse.