2019/08/06 - Mayor's Column: Update on Important Items
“An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from O’Fallon Mayor Herb Roach
This week, I want to provide an update to everyone on two big issues: expansion of legalized gambling and the sale of recreational marijuana. Both were discussed by the City Council at the Committee of the Whole on July 29, 2019.
Gambling – a new state law expands gambling and sports wagering options in the State of Illinois.
The Act will allow up to 5,000 sports betting kiosks, similar to lottery ticket kiosks, in locations that sell lottery tickets. This includes gas stations and convenience stores. The Act does not grant any authority to local governments to restrict sports betting kiosks.
The Act also increases the maximum number of allowed video gaming terminals from five to six per establishment. The City's current Code of Ordinances restrict the maximum number of video gaming terminals per establishment to five. In order to allow up to six video gaming terminals per establishment, the City Council will have to amend O'Fallon Code of Ordinances 121.04. However, the City Council is under no obligation to increase the number of permitted video gaming terminals per establishment. The City Council will discuss this at the next Finance and Administration Committee Meeting on August 26th.
Recreational Marijuana - on June 25, 2019, the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was signed, making Illinois the Eleventh State in America to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. The legislation provides for possession and recreational use of cannabis for individuals who are 21 years of age or older.
The Act provides an option for units of local government to prohibit cannabis establishments from locating in a given community (referenced as restricted zones). However, that action does not preclude other aspects of the Act from being in effect (e.g., the ability to have up to 30g of cannabis within one’s possession, as an example).
At the Committee of the Whole Meeting, the City Council discussed the sale of recreation cannabis (through dispensaries) in O’Fallon.
After a good amount of discussion, the Council instructed the City Staff to prepare an Ordinance prohibiting the sale of recreational cannabis in O’Fallon until they have more time to hear from the residents of O’Fallon. They also discussed the option of placing an advisory question on the March 2020 election ballot.
The discussion will continue at the next Community Development Committee Meeting on August 12th.
If you are interested in these two important items, I encourage you to attend the upcoming committee meetings or reach out to your Aldermen.
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open!