Outdoor Dining Will Not Be Offered in Galena

The City of Galena will not offer outdoor dining next summer due to legal concerns regarding the plans. City Council members this week voted unanimously to discontinue the outdoor dining program for 2022. For the past two summers, the city closed portions of Main Street and allowed restaurant owners to set up dining areas in the street. The program was intended to support restaurants when they were unable to offer indoor dining or had to operate with limited capacities under state COVID-19 restrictions. However, when council members consulted City Attorney Joe Nack, he felt the city did not have the legal authority to permit businesses to offer outdoor dining.