SCOTT CITY GRANTS BAR 90-DAY LICENSE

SCOTT CITY -- Last month the Scott City Council voted to rescind the liquor license of JJ's Pub & Grub on Main Street in Scott City because of the number of times police have had to respond to disturbance calls there.

At the council meeting Monday night the owners of JJ's, Jack and Joanne Johnson, told council members they were in a no-win situation because of a few "undesirables."

The Johnsons said they had been advised by the Scott City Police Department to report troublemakers to the police and not handle matters themselves. When they did report the incidents their license was revoked because there were too many calls, they said.

In an emotional presentation, the Johnsons said they would work with the city in any way to resolve the situation, but added they would go bankrupt if the council revoked their license.

The Johnsons presented a list of five or six individuals who were the root of their disturbance problems and promised that list would be posted in the bar. If any of them were to attempt to enter the bar the Johnsons would report them to the police and they would file trespassing charges.

Scott City Mayor Jerry Cummins said one of the problems the board had was few charges were filed by the Johnsons when the police were called to the bar. The Johnsons promised to rectify that.

"I felt like I was doing what I was told to do (by making the calls to the police)," Joanne Johnson said. "Now I know exactly what I'm supposed to do."

The council voted unanimously to approve a 90-day license for the bar as a probationary period to see if the problems would dissipate.

In other council business:

-- Permission was granted to allow a meeting at City Hall Monday at 7 p.m. for members of the council, Chamber of Commerce, Park Board, Historic Preservation Committee, Garden Club, railroad workers and retired railroad workers to discuss arrangements for the city's newest tourist attraction. The city will be receiving an antique caboose and these committees and public groups will be meeting to prepare plans for displaying the caboose and working a park around it.

-- Theresa Crump was appointed to replace John Rogers on the council. Rogers stepped down to accept the position of public works director last month. Crump was nominated by Cummins and was approved by every member of the council except Brenda Moyers, who said she couldn't approve the nomination because she new nothing of Crump's qualifications.

-- Complaints about an overabundance of insects at the ballpark will have Public Works Director Harold Uelsmann scrambling to find a replacement to the city's defunct fogger. Uelsmann said the city's fogger, which was purchased about five years ago, is no longer usable because it is releasing diesel fumes into the air with the insecticide. He will be checking with Scott County, Chaffee and rental stores to see about renting a replacement.