DeKALB – A local laundromat owned by a well-known area property manager will not receive a combined video gaming and liquor license, despite the DeKalb City Council approving liquor license classifications for laundromats months earlier.

DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas said during the Monday City Council meeting area landlord Jim Mason submitted an application under South 4th Street Mega Laundromat LLC for the video gaming and liquor license in October, according to city documents. Nicklas said Mayor Jerry Smith reviewed the application as liquor commissioner and Acting Police Chief Bob Redel provided recommendations for cameras to be set near the gaming area, which Mason abided by.

Nicklas said the landlord also successfully completed the background checks needed for the application.

“So the city staff recommend this to you,” Nicklas said.

Nicklas’s comments came after the DeKalb City Council approved liquor license classifications for laundromats upon first reading during its Aug. 24 meeting and upon second reading during its Sept. 14 meeting, according to city documents.

The council voted, 5-2, against the application during the Monday meeting. Among the “no” votes were First Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Morris, Fourth Ward Alderman Greg Perkins, Fifth Ward Alderman Scott McAdams, Sixth Ward Alderman Mike Verbic and Seventh Ward Alderman Tony Faivre. Second Ward Alderman Bill Finucane and Third Ward Alderman Tracy Smith were the only “yes” votes.

There was no additional discussion among aldermen before the vote. Mason also did not provide comment about the proposal during the meeting.

The additional liquor license classification concept was first broached to the City Council during the council’s Aug. 10 meeting, according to city documents. The proposal included only beer and wine being served at the location and only within the proposed game room, which would be in the laundromat’s current lounge area.

The DeKalb School District 428 Board of Education members were not in support of the city’s laundromat liquor license classification, according to school board documents.

“They were not comfortable with liquor being sold at the Mega Grande Laundromat due to its close proximity to Huntley Middle School,” according to Sept. 15 school board minutes.

Finucane, who voted in favor of Mason’s application, said Tuesday the city has not really turned down liquor licenses for a long time. He said he was aware the school board had thought having any video gaming or packaged liquor that close to the middle school.

“It wasn’t like it was a full bar,” Finucane said. “They were really doing it more for the gaming revenue than it was for the liquor license.”

Finucane said he was surprised those who voted against the application didn’t provide discussion before the vote. He also said most knew the approval of the laundromat liquor license classification was really at Mason’s request ahead of a formal application.

“Since we approved that, it was a surprise to me that it got voted down,” Finucane said.

Morris said Monday she personally didn’t have a problem with packaged liquor being served at the laundromat.

“What I do think we all struggled with was having more video gaming in town,” Morris said.

Perkins said Monday he believes the city tries to be as business friendly as it can be. However, he said, his thought process for voting against this specific application was simple.

“The simple fact is it’s right across the street from a school,” Perkins said. “With the school district not interested in it being there, that was good enough for me.”

Morris said she believes having too much video gaming in town degrades the quality of life for the city and its residents. She said that especially concerns her when the possibility of gambling additions is thrown in the mix.

“It’s sort of a predatory establishment and I don’t want to perpetuate that,” Morris said. “ ... It’s hard to go against business and we’ve tried to be business friendly and want to be supportive and monetize their investments, but I think it would harm the community as a whole.”

Nicklas said Tuesday he personally isn’t aware of why council members voted down the application, since there was no debate on the issue during the Monday meeting.

“I’m interested in knowing how the council as a body may wish to proceed,” Nicklas said. “If one of them indicates to me they want to reconsider, I would put it back on the agenda.”

Nicklas said the only time the council could reconsider the application would be during its Feb. 8 meeting.