St. Joseph

Tom Kacich (whose blog finally has a "clean" URL!) has the 2006 Census Bureau population estimates for Champaign County communities:

Champaign 73,685, up from 67,518 in the 2000 census
Urbana 38,685, up from 36,395 in 2000

...

Rantoul 12,309, down from 12,867 in 2000
Philo 1,560, up from 1,314 in 2000
St. Joseph 3,780, up from 2,912 in 2000
Mahomet 5,882, up from 4,877 in 2000
Sidney 1,101, up from 1,062 in 2000
Sadorus 399, down from 426 in 2000
Royal 272, down from 279 in 2000
Pesotum 498, down from 521 in 2000
Homer 1,136, down from 1,200 in 2000
Tolono 2,784, up from 2,700 in 2000
Thomasboro 1,207, down from 1,233 in 2000

Discuss.

The Mahomet Chamber of Commerce is gathering signatures to put it to the voters - should alcohol sales be allowed within the city limits?

Seems to me it would be awful nice for Mahomet residents to be able to pick up a case a beer at the IGA.  Also, the ability to sell wine would definately make a nice restaurant downtown move viable.  Sales tax reciepts would increase, and property tax receipts would likely follow.

On the flip side, Mahomet is a city chock full o kids -  bars in town would seem to increase the risk of drunk drivers.  The city may need to increase police patrols during prime drinking/driving hours.

Thoughts? 

Anyone from Sidney or St. Joe that thinks allowing alcohol sales in your town has been a bad thing?

Congratulations to B.J. Hackler, who was just named President of the Illinois Municipal League for the next year. I attended the IML conference in Chicago last weekend and it was exciting to see a small town mayor, especially one from Central Illinois, receive this leadership position. State and federal legislators respect the power of this organization and B.J. is now the head honcho.