ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill — Over the weekend, St. Clair County Health Department officials suspended food sanitation permits at seven restaurants, including Lotawata Creek in Fairview Heights, Reifschneider’s in Freeburg, Shooters and Syberg’s in O’Fallon, George’s Pub in East Carondelet, H’s Bar in Belleville and The Nail Bar in New Athens.
Health officials allege restaurant owners are in violation of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 mitigation orders, which include no indoor dining.
“We have suspended their permits and are giving them an opportunity for a hearing if they notify us within three days or 72 hours, by 4 p.m. Wednesday of this week. If they submit a corrective action plan that states that they will comply with the Governor’s mitigation orders, then we will reinstate their permit upon completion of their corrective action," St. Clair County Health Director Barb Hohlt said.
In Belleville, Jimmy Johnson, the owner of Moore’s Family Restaurant, said he has also heard from local officials. In his case, it was the mayor. But Johnson said they plan to remain open as long as possible, because he’s afraid if they close, they won’t be able reopen.
“There’s no law that backs this,” said Johnson. “There’s nothing that states you have to close your doors immediately.”
Attorney Jim DeVore represents Moore’s restaurant and some of the others that have had their food sanitation permits suspended. He plans to take the St. Clair County Department of Public Health to court.
“These health departments have known for months that they can’t make their premises off-limits to the public without getting a court order and actually proving with facts that there is something going on inside related to infectious disease,” DeVore said.
Hohlt said Pritzker’s COVID-19 mitigation orders include no indoor dining and the requirement of masks. Also, those orders require that outside tents have to have two sides up for ventilation. She added that by the time health inspectors show up ready to suspend food sanitation permits, the restaurant owners have already been warned four times.