A vote last night (Tuesday) by the Danville City Council will limit the number of liquor establishments with video gaming devices to thirty. But instead of the earlier $1200 annual fee, city council members decided the annual gaming licenses will cost $600. The amount will be pro-rated for the rest of this year.
Dave Morris, Commander of American Legion Post 210 in Danville, said the earlier proposal to go from zero to $1200 is ‘’a heck of an increase.’’ He noted the income from the machines helps keep the Legion’s lights on.
Mayor Rickey Williams had earlier proposed amending liquor ordinances to say businesses with liquor licenses could not get more than 49-percent of their gross revenue from video gaming. But some bar owners complained that if that is the case, some businesses might close. It is because they currently get more than 49-percent of their revenue from the machines.
Those council members who voted in favor of cutting the fee from $1200 to $600 and limiting the number of liquor establishments with video games to 30 included Brenda Brown, Sharon Pickering, R. J. Davis, Mike O’Kane, Tom Stone, Aaron Troglia, Bob Iverson, and Steve Foster. Those voting ‘no’ were Aldermen Dan Duncheon, Mike Puhr, Sharon McMahon, and Alderman and Vice Mayor Steve Nichols.
Some council members are looking for a way to give charitable groups – such as the American Legion – a break on the higher fee. The Mayor said that is something that could be considered later by possibly changing the liquor license fees for such groups.
