Beer sales at Fyre Lake Golf Club will continue for now
That's while Sherrard decides whether to revoke its liquor license in coming days.
It's business as usual at the clubhouse on Friday. While golfers buy beer on Friday, there's no word yet if the club will lose its liquor license.
"We just want to keep everybody in line," said Sherrard Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Delbert Henry. "Keep the city out of trouble."
Henry hopes to have a decision in the next five days.
Developer Todd Raufeisen's staff was cited for buying beer from a retailer rather than an authorized distributor.
Raufeisen did not admit to wrongdoing during Friday's Liquor Commission Hearing, repeating a prepared statement.
"Our position is we noted the violation," he said. "We have met with the state liquor commission in Springfield. We have signed an offer in compromise, and we have paid a fine."
But Special Agent Meagan Warnke verified through receipts that the club illegally bought beer from a retailer.
"The amount of alcohol on site did not equally match what was purchased in the invoices," she said.
Raufeisen paid a $700 fine to reinstate his license.
Raufeisen has also come under fire for unrealized projects in Galesburg and hold-ups in developing the Dock site in Davenport.
The Fyre Lake Golf Club is up for auction on June 4 in Mercer County.
In Sherrard, Raufeisen has yet to repay a $300,000 loan and didn't follow through on finishing a road extension.
The long list of broken promises is taking a toll on Sherrard. The Mercer County village of about 640 residents just wants to see Fyre Lake prosper and thrive.
"It's very frustrating," said Cama Creger, Sherrard. "With the TIF, when it started, they were supposed to do a lot of improvements in this city. That's not going to happen."
Beer sales might be the least of the problems there.
"It's overwhelming," Henry concluded. "There's so many things that could be going on, but we've just got to wait and see what happens."
They'll be working hard to get Fyre Lake Golf Club back on course.