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Antioch trustees agree to consider new pouring license for Class D gas stations after owners warn of closures
Summary
After local gas station owners told the village their fuel volumes dropped sharply and underground tank upgrades could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, trustees voted to place a text amendment allowing a new class of pouring (liquor) license for Class D gas stations on a future agenda for ordinance drafting.
Antioch trustees agreed to put a draft ordinance on a future agenda to create a new class of pouring license for Class D gas stations after several station owners described steep revenue losses and looming compliance costs.
At a committee of the whole meeting, Sam Thorney, owner of a Shell station, said state fuel taxes and competition across the border have “hurt” local volume and requested the village consider a pouring license so gaming revenue could help stations survive. “Because of their policies, local businesses are getting hurt,” Thorney said, arguing additional revenue would help stations cover falling sales.
Another owner, Sain Jaj, told trustees the cost to bring underground containment and pump systems into compliance could be about $582,000 and warned that many smaller stations lack the funds to make those upgrades. “If gas stations don't survive in town, there’s only like three locations that could qualify for gaming and could help survive,” Jaj said, urging the board to consider licensing changes to keep sites viable.
Several trustees said they were sympathetic. Trustee Macek said the village risks losing long‑standing local landmarks and that closures could create public‑safety and convenience issues, adding, “We’ve got to help these guys out.” Trustee Bluthard and Trustee McNeil said the state’s fuel‑tax environment is unlikely to change and that allowing a new license class could be a practical local response.
The mayor recused himself from the discussion; trustees appointed Trustee Peterson as chair pro tem for the hearing. By consensus, the board directed staff to prepare a text amendment and a draft ordinance (likely a new license class) for consideration at a subsequent meeting rather than taking immediate formal action.
What’s next: Staff will draft ordinance language amending licensing code to add a class of pouring license for Class D gas stations and return the item for formal consideration and possible vote at the next board meeting.
