A. Liquor Control Commissioner. The Chairman of the Grundy County Board shall be the Liquor Control Commissioner for the territory in Grundy County outside of the incorporated cities, villages and towns.
B. Liquor Control Commission. The Chairman of the Grundy County Board, together with a committee, which he or she may appoint, shall constitute the Grundy County Liquor Control Commission.
1. Qualifications. No person shall be appointed to the Grundy County Liquor Control Commission who has been convicted of any violation of any federal, state or local law concerning the manufacture or sale of alcoholic liquor or who has paid a fine or penalty in settlement of prosecution against him for any violation of such laws or shall have forfeited his bond to appear in court to answer charges for any such violation, nor shall any person be appointed who has been convicted for a felony. Furthermore, no commissioner may, directly or indirectly, individually or as a member of a partnership or as a shareholder of a corporation have any interest whatsoever in the purchases or sales made by the persons authorized by this chapter, or to purchase or sell alcoholic liquor. No provision of this section shall prevent any commissioner from purchasing and keeping in his possession for the use of him or herself or members of his or family or guests any alcoholic liquor which may be purchased or kept by any person by virtue of this chapter.
2. Gifts, etc., to Commissioner; Penalty. Members of the Grundy County Liquor Commission shall not solicit or accept any gift, gratuity, emolument or employment from any person subject to the provisions of this chapter, or from any officer, agent or employee thereof, nor solicit, request from or recommend, directly or indirectly, to any such person or to any officer, agent or employee thereof, the appointment of any person to any place or position, and every such person, and every officer, agent or employee thereof, is hereby forbidden to offer to any commissioner, any gift, gratuity, emolument or employment. If any commissioner shall violate any of the provisions of this section, he or she shall be removed from the office or employment held by him.
3. Powers and Duties of the Commission and Commissioner. The Grundy, County Liquor Control Commission and Commissioner shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
a. To receive applications, investigate applicants and grant, renew, or deny liquor licenses, and to issue licenses for retail sale of alcoholic liquor in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and to delegate to staff the authority to approve special event permits for licensees possessing the requisite annual permits and licensure.
b. To examine, or cause to be examined, under oath, any applicant for a Retail Liquor Dealer's License, or for the renewal thereof, and to examine, or cause to be examined, the books and records of any applicant or licensee; to hear testimony and take proofs of the information provided in his or her application; and to issue subpoenas for the purpose of examining an applicant for a Retail Liquor Dealer's License. For the purpose of administering or enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the Commissioner may, at his discretion, hold public hearings at any time within the County concerning any matter embraced within this chapter, and may exercise any authority permitted under State law.
c. To suspend for not more than thirty days or revoke licenses upon the Liquor Control Commission's determination, upon notice after hearing, that a licensee has violated any provision of this chapter, any laws of the United States relating to the sale of alcoholic liquor or any of the provisions of alcoholic liquor or any of the provisions of hte Illinois Liquor Control Act, or any applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Liquor Commission or by the State of Illinois. Any action by the Liquor Control Commission to suspend or revoke a licensee's license is limited to the license of the specific premises where the violation occurred. In lieu of suspending or revoking a license the commission may imposes a fine, upon the commission's determination and notice after hearing, that a licensee has violated any provision of this chapter.
d. To enter and inspects or authorize any law enforcement officer or other County personnel to enter and inspect, any premises in Grundy County licensed hereunder to determine whether any of the provisions of this Ordinance or of the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 have been or are being violated.
e. To notify the Secretary of State when a club, incorporated under the General Not for Profit Corporation Act of 1986 or a foreign corporation functioning as a club in the State of Illinois under a certificate of authority issued under that Act, has violated the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 by selling or offering for retail sale alcoholic liquors without a license.
f. To receive complaints from licensees, local officials, law enforcement agencies, organizations and other persons, stating that any licensee has been or is violating any provision of this ordinance or any provisions of the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934. Such complaints shall be in writing, signed, and sworn by the person making the complaint, and shall state with specificity the facts in relation to the alleged violation. If the Liquor Control Commission has reasonable grounds to believe that the complaint substantially alleges a violation of this chapter or of the Liquor Control Act, it shall conduct an investigation. If, after conducting an investigation, the commission is satisfied that the alleged violation did occur, it shall proceed with disciplinary action against the licensee as provided in this chapter.
g. To receive local license fees and pay the same forthwith to the County Treasurer as the case may be.
h. To notify the Secretary of State of any convictions for a violation of Section 6-20 of the Illinois Liquor Control Ordinance of 1934 or Section 4 of this chapter.
i. To suspend or revoke any license issued by him or her if the Liquor Commissioner determines, after hearing. that there was any physical attack or fight involving a weapon on the premises, or if there was any unlawful discharge of a firearm on the premises. (Ord. 14-007, 4-8-2014)