South Central Reporter

City of Centralia City Council met April 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council for Centralia, Illinois met on Monday April 7, 2025, in the Council Chambers at Centralia City Hall. Mayor Kuder called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Present: Mayor Kuder, Council Member Castellari, and Council Member Allen

Absent: None

Staff Members Present: Andrew Thomson, City Attorney; Galen Mahle, City Manager; and Kim Enke, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

None

OTHER BUSINESS

The purpose of the meeting was to hold a hearing for an appeal related to the revocation of a Tobacco License of Evermore Smoke Inc., DBA Vape Central for violation of the City of Centralia Municipal Code, including, but not limited to, Chapter 12, § 12-8(a) by selling a tobacco product, electronic cigarette, or alternative nicotine product a person under the age of 21 years on November 29, 2024.

Attorney Michael Olson requested the appeal representing Evermore Smoke, Inc. He provided history of the compliance check, violation and tobacco hearing that resulted in a revocation of the license issued to his client. He reviewed the business’s other locations and steps that they are taking to train employees and install point of sale equipment to reduce the likelihood of underage sales. He reviewed the fines and probations issued to other entities that also failed their compliance checks and compared their violations. His request was to reverse the revocation issued by Mayor Kuder and alternately issue a fine or probation instead.

Council Member Castellari asked for clarification of the preventive steps or employee reprimands following the revocation. Attorney Olson explained that the employee that sold the tobacco to the underage individual is currently still employed by the business but also suggested that further training could be obtained and other protections put in place to keep it from occurring in the future.

There was discussion initiated by Council Member Allen with concern that this business received a license in July and sold to minors soon after in November. There was also discussion about their other business locations by Mayor Kuder.

City Attorney Thomson addressed the Council stating that Mayor Kuder correctly took appropriate action by issuing a revocation. He stated Evermore Smoke Inc. violated Chapter 12 for underage sales. He presented an overview of the evidence presented at the tobacco hearing. He included the information presented by the City at the hearing and on record. He reviewed the steps taken for the compliance check by Officer Jader with the youth participant. Attorney Thomson stated that there is nothing within the code that requires a stair step approach to fines, suspensions or revocations with tobacco violations and the Mayor ultimately acted within his rights to revoke the license. He further stated that it is the role of the Mayor in the community to uphold tobacco compliance and youth safety.

With no further comments or questions a motion was made by Council Member Allen and seconded by Council Member Castellari to affirm the revocation issued by Mayor Kuder.

Ayes: Council Member Castellari, Council Member Allen, and Mayor Kuder

Nays: None

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting.

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 2:21 p.m. .

https://www.cityofcentralia.org/media/7581