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Normal OKs Curbside and Delivery Alcohol Sales

Shoppers in Normal now will be able to order curbside pickup and home delivery of alcohol from large retailers.

Prompted by growing online services offered by stores such as Kroger and Walmart, the Town Council voted Monday to amend its liquor code and permit such purchases.

City Manager Pam Reece said the stores must take measures to prevent sales to underage or intoxicated customers.

“Even if someone orders online, but they aren’t in a condition to accept it, that is prohibited,” she said.

Only stores of at least 10,000 square feet with a Class A liquor license will be approved. Reece said the change does not affect restrictions on sales close to schools or churches.

The code was also amended to allow alcohol sales at movie theaters such as AMC Classic, formerly Starplex. Two Bloomington theaters, Marcus Cinema and Ovation 10, already offer beer and wine.

Also Monday, the council voted to repeal adoption of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code for new construction. The procedural step to comply with state law means Normal inspectors will no longer enforce the IECC.

The town previously adopted the 2015 code, but a 2018 update went into effect on July 1. Under the state's act, towns cannot maintain a less stringent code.

“It does not mean that a contractor or a property owner doesn’t have to comply with the 2018 state code; they still do,” said Reece. “It just means that the Town of Normal inspection staff will not be enforcing it.”

Reece says reducing required inspections will help absorb an upcoming staff reduction made during the annual the budgeting process. Director of Inspections Greg Troemel says the change puts the town in line with other communities.

“Normal is very of unique. Most communities do not adopt the Energy Conservation Code,” he said. “They basically take the approach that, ‘It’s out there, here’s a reminder, it’s your burden to comply,’ and kind of wash their hands of it.”

The council voted 4-1 in favor of the repeal, with two members absent and Stan Nord casting the dissenting vote.

Also, Nord cast the lone vote against an ordinance implementation of bike lanes along Shelbourne Drive between School Street and Charlotte Drive.

Items gaining unanimous approval included awarding a $575,000 sump pump discharge and storm sewer improvement project to Stark Excavating; approving a $132,000 resurfacing for the zero-depth entry pool at Fairview Family Aquatic Center; entering an intergovernmental agreement with Illinois State University for fire protection service; and entering a three-year agreement with All City Management Services for school crossing guard management.

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Joe Deacon is a reporter at WCBU.
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