Votes at a glance: Wheaton council approves aggregate contract, liquor license for Thornton's; denies Class M application

WHEATON, Ill. — The Wheaton City Council took several formal votes during its Jan. 6 meeting, approving a procurement contract for aggregate materials, granting a Class S liquor license for Thornton's convenience store location, approving routine warrants and consent items, and denying a Class M liquor license for a proposed tap‑house at 206 N. Main St.

Key outcomes

- Aggregate contract: The council approved a resolution to execute agreement number 513 with Vulcan Construction Materials LLC for aggregate materials to be purchased on an as‑needed basis at the vendor's proposed per‑ton prices. City staff said the low bid would keep Public Works roughly $7,000 under budget for typical annual usage. The motion passed on roll call.

- Special use permit amendment (planning action): The council received the Planning & Zoning Board report and directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance approving the special use permit amendment for 900 E. Geneva Road (Islamic Center of Wheaton). That directive is covered in detail in a separate article.

- Thornton's Class S liquor license: The council approved a Class S (convenience store) liquor license for Thornton's LLC to operate at the southeast corner of Geneva and Gary. A representative said the store planned to open on Jan. 17; staff said the license copy would be issued after payment.

- Pride Stores / 93 Octane Class M application: The council voted to deny a Class M liquor license for Pride Stores Inc. to operate 93 Octane (a craft brewery/tap‑house concept) at 206 N. Main St. The liquor commission and staff recommended denial because the proposed location falls within the ordinance's 100‑foot distance restriction from a church; the applicant argued the store's primary use would not be liquor sales and therefore an exception should apply. A council member recused from that vote; the motion to deny carried on roll call.

- Consent agenda and warrants: The consent agenda, which included five items, was approved by roll call. The council also approved warrant number 887 in the amount of $1,502,814.39.

- Executive session: The council voted to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters under the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)). The council stated it did not plan further action in open session following the executive session.

What the votes mean: Most approvals were routine procurement, licensing and administrative actions. The denial of the Class M license for 93 Octane requires the applicant either to modify its operation or pursue a different liquor classification; staff and the council suggested alternatives such as applying for a Class A or B (restaurant) license or exploring operational changes that address parking and distribution requirements. The aggregate contract will allow Public Works to buy materials from the low bidder at the prices proposed. The special use permit amendment for the Islamic Center moves forward to ordinance drafting, with further engineering and permitting work required before construction.

A complete record of roll calls and motions will be included in the council minutes and the forthcoming ordinance and permit documents.