ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles City Council approved a new liquor license and a massage establishment license at its Jan. 3 meeting.

Aldermen voted 7-1 to approve a liquor license for Brunch Café, to be located at 172 S. First St. in a new building. Brunch Café will occupy the south corner of the building and serve breakfast and lunch. Owner Andy Zatos operates four other cafés, one each in Fox River Grove, Huntley, McHenry and Roselle.

Also in a 7-1 vote, aldermen approved a massage establishment license for Spa Elysian, 457 Dunham Road. Ashley Pilarski, a licensed esthetician, is the spa’s owner and provides skin care. She plans to hire a licensed massage therapist.

Alderman Jo Krieger voted against granting either of the licenses. Alderman Maureen Lewis was absent from the meeting.

Also during the Jan. 3 meeting, city officials promoted two St. Charles firefighters. Tony Centimano to captain and Dave Chmelar to lieutenant.

Video gaming revenue reviewed

Following the City Council meeting, the Government Operations Committee reviewed recent statistics regarding video gaming establishments in St. Charles.

From September 2016 through November 2016, patrons of St. Charles restaurants, taverns and clubs with video gaming licenses spent $1.7 million at gambling machines. Of that amount, the players collected $1.6 million in winnings.

During that three-month period, the businesses collected $126,435 and will be taxed 30 percent, or $37,931. The state’s portion of the video gaming tax for that period is $31,610, and the city’s share is $6,322. Video gaming taxes currently supplement the city’s corporate fund for general expenses, such as social services, staff salaries and street improvements, said City Administrator Mark Koenen.