Carroll County Board to Open the Door for New Shannon Distillery

By MIKE NESTER For The Prairie Advocate News

MOUNT CARROLL – If all goes according to plan, the Lucky Leprechaun will be selling craft liquors from their rural Shannon location sometime in 2013.

Those are the plans of Bruce and Heather Schleuter as they move forward on opening a distillery, which would become Carroll County’s first and only, the fifth in the State of Illinois.

According to county administrator Mike Doty, the State of Illinois recently added to its Liquor Control Act, a new license called Class 9 Craft Distillers.

This has opened the door for small local craft distillers to begin operations, much like wineries have over the last few years.

At the May 3 Carroll County Board meeting, Bruce Schleuter unveiled his plans to open a craft distillery that would sell a variety of products including Brown Sugar Rum, Vodka, Gin, Irish Poitin and Absinthe.

They would be able to produce 15,000 gallons per year in their production facility which will include house pot stills, fermenter tanks, mash tubs, pumps, bottling stations, and storage for the finished product.

Schleuter explained The Lucky Leprechaun will be a production facility and not a social club or bar, as product will be sold as retail with a tasting area for consumers of legal age.

Patrons will be also able to observe the process during business hours and will be offered guided educational tours of the facility.

According to Schleuter, the alcohol content of the products will range from 80 to 140 proof (40-70 percent alcohol by volume). These products will be sold in different sized containers ranging from 375 ml to 750 ml fifths.

Board member Joyce Schubert (District III) asked if the business would produce any unpleasant odor and Schleuter assured her the aroma would not be a problem.

In order for the business to open its doors, the county board must adopt and pass the new liquor license class.

“It looks like a great idea to me,” said county board chairman Rod Fritz of the business opportunity.

Fritz said the board will move forward to draft the changes for the new liquor ordinance to allow the business to operate in Carroll County.

In 2008 the County Board amended the County’s liquor ordinance to create a license class that would specifically work for wineries or micro-breweries. Since then one business has successfully opened in the county under this license, Silver Moon Winery near Lake Carroll.

Lucky Leprechaun will also have to acquire the proper zoning permits from the county before they can begin operations.

TLP seeks liquor license

In another liquor related issue, the county board voted unanimously to approve a Class B liquor license for Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP).

Betsy Shaulis, representing TLP, explained to the board that summer theater wants to sell beer and wine before, during and after their performances.

The Class B liquor license would allow TLP to sell beer and wine and the liquor can only be consumed on the property.

Shaulis said TLP must also receive licenses and permits from the State of Illinois and the Dept. of Revenue, but hoped to acquire those prior to the start of the season.

Salaries resolved

The county board also resolved two salary issues at its May 3 meeting setting the amounts for the county corner as well as county board members.

The county board voted 9-4 to approve the salary for the county coroner beginning at a rate of $15,000 per year and with an increase of $500 per year until 2016, when the term ends.

Matt Jones sent the county board an e-mail saying he was going to file paperwork to run for the Coroner’s office in November, after missing the filing deadline during the spring primary.

Jones felt there was no need for a salary raise but felt the assistant deputy coroner should be compensated more for their time and services.

The county board will discuss the deputy coroner salaries during their budget discussion but still voted to give the coroner a pay raise.

After a lengthy discussion the board also voted to approve a pay raise for themselves.

Board members will now received $55 per meeting but will not be allowed to turn in mileage for in-county meetings.

Board members currently receive $50 per meeting plus mileage. Under the new agreement, board members will still be allowed mileage for out-of-county meetings and seminars.

The board voted to eliminate the in-county mileage to make it easier for bookkeeping.

It should also be noted that in November the county board will be reduced from 15 members down to nine, so the total salary of the board will also be reduced.

In other business the board:

Approved the Carroll County Senior Center’s Transit’s Policy and Procedures which was required by law.

Approved a letter of intent to once again support and help fund the Blackhawk Hills RC&D.

Learned from Jeremy Hughes, the county’s GIS director, that an atlas was being produced for publication and would be available in a month.