BENTON – Washington Park Mayor Rickie Thomas and village trustees improperly blocked the opening of a liquor store, St. Clair County resident Timothy West alleges in U.S. district court.
He sued Thomas and all six trustees on Jan. 19, alleging violation of due process and equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Lloyd M. Cueto of Belleville filed the complaint for West, stating his client was in the process of opening D’s Convenience Store at 3400 Bunkum Road.
He claims West applied for liquor and business licenses in January 2020, and satisfied all requirements.
He claims an inspector approved West’s plan last summer.
He claims that from April to October, Washington Park represented that it would grant both licenses once the trustees convened for a public meeting.
But in October, defendants are alleged to have “changed the liquor license ordinance to preclude plaintiff’s ability to apply.”
Cueto also alleges violation of Illinois law on freedom of information, claiming the village denied or ignored West’s requests for a copy of the municipal code.
He also alleges violation of Illinois law on open meetings.
He claims that from April to October, defendants failed to hold public meetings or held them through telephone conferences in which not all trustees could participate.
He claims that on Oct. 27, Washington Park held its first meeting in months.
“Said meeting was to be held via Zoom as published but was actually held via teleconference from the mayor’s office,” Cueto wrote.
“Not all trustees participated in the teleconference.”
Thomas stated in an interview on Jan. 29 that trustee Mary McKinney said she had to work and trustee Juliette Gosa hadn’t been to five or six meetings.
“They could have got online if they tried but they didn’t try,” Thomas said.
He said their attorney was on the line.
Bob Sprague of Belleville represents the village.