Fines paid by Bloomington COVID violators to help city’s needy

Posted on December 15, 2020
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner. (WJBC file photo)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington is working with District 87 schools to provide some financial help for the needy.

Families who’ve been hit hard by the pandemic’s economic impact will receive money from fines paid by local businesses who’ve violated the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions, Mayor Tari Renner announced at Monday night’s city council meeting. So far, the city has collected almost $5,000 in fines, said Renner.

Our news partner HOI ABC reports that Tuesday, two more establishments appear before the city’s liquor commission to contest charges they violated the governor’s executive order by serving customers indoors.

Renner said the city is not interested in collecting fines, but rather convincing businesses they have to comply with rules aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

“Even if you think your interpretation of the law is superior to that of the governor, his legal team, and all of the Illinois counties, that’s fine, but that’s not the way that we have to abide by the law,” said Renner.

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