Rule changes in store for Elgin bars open past 2 a.m.

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Updated: January 23, 2012 4:02AM

ELGIN — If you want to drink late in Elgin, get there early.

That was the message of sorts late Wednesday afternoon when the Elgin City Council, acting in its role as the liquor commission, moved along plans to modify how establishments that are allowed to be open past 2 a.m. can operate.

The new rules would mean that a half-hour before official closing time, such watering holes would not be allowed to let in any more patrons. Those still there would face a last call for alcohol 15 minutes before closing, which codifies how many bars cut off drinking anyway.

Places impacted would include JB’s Grill & Bar, Rookies, Gasthaus, The Martini Room (all of which have 3 a.m. licenses), The Mission (which can be open weekends until 4 a.m.), Tilted Kilt (3 a.m.) and Afterset (which opens Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 4 a.m.). The suggested changes came about in large part because of issues with the latter two establishments, both of which were subjects of discussion Wednesday.

The commission sent a complaint in July to Tilted Kilt, 2300 Bushwood Drive off Randall Road, which noted 16 incidents requiring police attention over the prior 12 months and four mixed martial arts bouts the city says should not have occurred under the terms of the Tilted Kilt’s liquor license.

Wednesday, the commission fined Tilted Kilt $1,600. But city Corporate Counsel William Cogley said the Tilted Kilt had taken a number of steps that have improved its operation dramatically, including working with security personnel on how to better handle unruly patrons.

As for the MMA fights, Cogley said the language of Tilted Kilt’s license didn’t specifically prohibit them. However, the establishment has agreed to stop holding them.

William Fuller, the attorney for Tilted Kilt, said the establishment has been proactive in addressing the city’s concerns and sees correcting issues as being good for business.

Afterset, at 158 Symphony Way and across the street from Elgin’s police station, was on the agenda because of a large number of calls for police service to the establishment, particularly one early July 30 when police arrested five men in the aftermath of a fight outside the bar between two of them.

Police reports stated that as four officers worked to stop the fight, a crowd gathered, made up of people in the adjacent parking lots and patrons spilling out of the bar. Police called for backup units, as reports estimated that the crowd grew to between 150 and 200.

According to the reports, “due to the establishment having such a high number of calls for service during those hours, several EPD officers are needed on both Friday and Saturday nights to monitor the subjects letting out.”

Cogley reported Wednesday that the bar did not have enough reports generated from it over the past 12 months to bring a formal complaint before the commission.

But in light of the troubles with the establishment, Cogley had drafted suggested changes to the city’s liquor laws that would make liquor license holders responsible for problems such as fighting occurring outside near their businesses. Such could be a step toward bars having their own security detail monitor its parking lots.

The suggestions also include the aforementioned cut-off times for letting in patrons and serving them booze. Sales of distilled spirits would be limited to orders by the glass, with full bottle sales banned.

Cogley noted police Sgt. Al Young has been working a special liquor detail the last month or so, and he has been suggesting bars with problem patrons — such as Afterset — put together lists of patrons banned from entering.

Down the road, the commissioners also might consider recouping costs of services from places that frequently need police attention.

Mayor Dave Kaptain had stern words for the Afterset.

“The message is we can’t tolerate these things,” he said. “These guys in particular need to tighten up their ship. If trouble doesn’t stop, it’s going to lead to more serious problems.”