By Neil Doyle with Todd Wineburner

After weeks of discussion and planning, the Pontiac City Council passed an ordinance this week that will allow alcoholic beverage sales at a community event slated for Humiston Riverside Park this summer. The issue was brought to the council by Pontiac businessman Marlon Eilts, who’s organizing a summer music festival called the “Summer Shindig.” Humiston Riverside Park was selected for the gathering, but Eilts made it clear to the council that alcohol sales would be important to the event’s success.

The city has traditionally not allowed alcohol at these types of events, so ordinances regulating alcohol sales and marketing weren’t in place. The council has been working on appropriate regulations since late last year, and at the latest council meeting a new ordinance was approved. Organizers of the event still need state permits, but Pontiac City Administrator Bob Karls tells WJEZ that the state issues thousands of these types of temporary permits each year, so he doesn’t anticipate any difficulties. According to published reports, the ordinance allowing alcohol sales was approved with only one dissenting vote.

In other items, the city took action regarding the planned Camp-Humiston Memorial Swimming Pool memorial project. A payment of $1,080 will go towards the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to “continue review” of the application.

The city wouldn’t owe any additional money should the project fail to receive enough charitable funding to move forward.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]