Huntley’s response to local restaurants defying Tier 3 mitigations
HUNTLEY – As of Friday, November 20, all of Illinois will have entered into Tier 3 mitigations of Illinois’ plan to curve the spread of COVID-19. Huntley area restaurants are all too familiar with the stricter guidelines which prohibits indoor dinning services as both McHenry and Kane Counties, were amongst the first of many counties to enter into Tier 3 of the state’s plan in the month of October due to a surge in coronavirus cases exceeding the 8% threshold.
As previously reported in My Huntley News, a 78-page lawsuit was filed on behalf of 37 restaurants including Papa G’s and BBQ King of Huntley, asking for an issuance of a temporary restraining order for relief from Gov. Pritzker’s mitigation guidelines. McHenry County Judge Thomas Meyer ruled against the restraining order on October 30, citing that the new mitigation plan was based on new data and was not an extension of Pritzker’s original order.
With a hearing to dismiss the motion not anticipated to take place until December 16, many restaurants reeling from Pritzker’s initial order have decided to weigh the risks associated with violating the mitigations in order to continue to provide dine in services to the public.
Papa G’s co-owner Bill Kyriazakos did not wish to comment citing the pending litigation as well as not wanting to bring any further attention to the restaurant. BBQ King General Manager Collin Beck followed suit although he did provide My Huntley News with a status update in regards to how BBQ King was faring businesswise.
“The community has supported us very well. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are right now. We owe everything to them. We’re going to stay open as long as the community continues to support us,” Beck said. “We’re taking all the precautions like having tables set up six feet apart, and asking patrons to wear masks. We also installed about eight or nine hand sanitizer stations. They’re all over the restaurant. We’re pretty happy with the way things are in how we take precautions and again, we want to thank the community for supporting us. Whatever way you want your BBQ, we’re here to serve it to you.”
During the October 22 Huntley Village Board meeting, Trustee Niko Kanakaris raised the question on what would the Village’s response be in the event that complaints are brought forward regarding restaurants and or bars that are violating Pritzker’s mitigation orders.
Interim Village Manager Lisa Armour echoed the response given to My Huntley News by Deputy Chief Michael Klunk.
“In regards to the Village’s response to potential violations of the Governor’s public health rules, our response, along with many law enforcement agencies and municipalities, has been one that includes voluntary compliance and education,” Klunk said in an email correspondence. “Should we receive a complaint in regards to a specific business, we would respond to the location and make sure that they are aware of the public health guidelines and mitigation rules currently in place. The matter would then be referred to the prospective Health Department.”
Armour added during the meeting, that the State Liquor Commission had emphasized on their website, that any violators of the Tier 3 no dine in order, were at risk of losing their state liquor license as a result of non-compliance. She did also include, however, that she was unsure if the state would follow through in enforcing such a decision.
Trustee Timothy Hoeft argued that residents of Huntley were getting to a point where they want to be able to decide for themselves what they want to do as far as dine out options go. He commented how small businesses need to take whatever actions possible in order to, “be able to make it.”
A counter argument was followed up by Trustee JR Westberg who cautioned about Pritzker’s announcement stating that if an establishment were to lose their liquor license, it would take months to reinstate it.
Kanakaris ended the discussion by stating, “It’s just crazy because we’re split down the middle, Rookies has to close but Parkside can stay open? That makes a lot of sense. I’m just saying, its garbage. Rookies is not closing, they’re staying open. I just want to make sure that we don’t bother them.”
The Village of Huntley has no intention of shutting down any establishment the remains open to dine in services during Pritzker’s current state plan.
