Council takes on liquor licenses

Lorain officials could oppose the liquor licenses of three bars, including one on Broadway, that officials claim are public nuisances the city.

Meanwhile, Lorain police and other local agencies could get $300,000 to pay for a new truck for investigating crime scenes, according to city legislation.

The issues will come up for consideration when Lorain City Council meets on July 17.

The Ohio Division of Liquor Control has notified City Council that all permits to sell alcoholic beverages will expire on Oct. 1.

Bars in question said to public nuisances to city, officials say

If the city wants to object to the renewal of any liquor licenses, the deadline is Sept. 1 for Lorain officials to request a hearing — and it appears they might.

Council will consider legislation to oppose the renewal for three bars:

• Velez Corp., doing business at Luna Del Mar on the first floor and patio of 2156 E. 28th St.

• Mug Shotz LLC, doing business as Mugshotz at 3680 Pearl Ave.

• Bootleggers Kennel

Club LLC, doing business as The Bootleggers Den on the first floor, basement and patios of 538 Broadway.

The legislation for the three objections did not give specific details about problems in the bars.

However, the city documents claimed all three have “been the cause of constant problems including ongoing offenses of violence, weapons violations, liquor control violations, gang activity and drug activity in the neighborhood.”

Due to those reasons, the city legislation claimed the bars “substantially” interfere with public decency, sobriety,

peace and good order of the neighborhoods.

The city documents were prepared by Lorain Law Director Pat Riley.

He requested Council consider the measures as emergencies, to have time to notify the Division of Liquor Control by the deadline. Lorain City Council also has a summer recess in August.

Meanwhile, Council will consider accepting a grant of $300,000 to help Lorain police pay for a 27-foot crime scene evidence truck and a 3D laser scanner.

Lorain police would partner with Elyria police, the Lorain County Sheriff’s

Office and Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office to buy the new truck.

The project is budgeted to cost $364,537, with Lorain paying for the balance of the cost, according to documents included with Council’s meeting agenda. The money would come from a 2017 Local Government Safety Capital Grant from the Ohio Development Services Agency.

The laser scanner would cost $123,458, while the truck would cost $241,079.

A grant agreement lists Farber Specialty Vehicles as a vendor the for truck. The Columbus-based company is family owned and

has built at least 15 crime scene and mobile lab trucks for law enforcement agencies around the country, including the state police of Michigan and Virginia, according to the Farber website.

It was unclear when the truck might hit the streets of Lorain. The legislation did not include an exact schedule for the city to take possession.

Lorain City Council meetings are open to the public. Council’s next meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. July 17 at Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave.

Agendas are posted at cityoflorain.org.