Dixon bars get Sunday overtime win: Council votes to allow pubs to stay open until 11 p.m.

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DIXON – City bar owners scored an extra hour at Monday night’s council meeting.

The City Council revised an ordinance to allow pubs to stay open an hour later on Sunday nights. Bartenders now can serve drinks until 11 p.m., and have until 11:30 p.m. to clear patrons out of the buildings.

The revision came at the request of 11 bar owners.

Rocky Fulker, owner of Fuel Discount Liquor, spearheaded the drive to keep bars open later during football season.

He and other barkeeps have been herding out customers before the final quarter ends on Sunday nights. They wanted to be able to serve drinks until 10:30 p.m., and to lock up by 11 p.m., from September through February.

To make things easier, though, commissioners decided to vote instead on a year-round change.

“We’re trying to simplify this thing so the police department doesn’t have to be running around with a list of hours in their pocket,” Mayor Jim Burke said. “Obviously, the bar owners won’t have to stay open; they can close at 10 if they want to.”

Commissioner Ira “Clark” Kelly voted against the revision, though.

“My main objection is, they asked for Sunday night football – we’re giving them year round,” he said.

Fulker said that he was happy with the decision, and that he thinks bars will be able to support the later hours outside of football season. The city now has the latest Sunday night hours in the area – bars in Sterling, Rock Falls, Whiteside and Lee counties all close at 10 p.m.

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