The Marseilles City Council agreed on Thursday to issue permits to all restaurants in town to serve people outdoors. Mayor Jim Hollenbeck doesn’t think it will affect traffic or parking downtown.
Hollenbeck says the council had a special meeting on Thursday to vote on the permits as restaurants will be able to serve diners outdoors beginning Friday. The blanket permit could be extended all the way through October, but after that restaurants still wanting to serve people outdoors will need to apply for individual permits. Establishments with a liquor license can serve alcohol outside, but it will need to stay within the patio area of the restaurant.