Two weeks after the Sycamore City Council approved an ordinance allowing for an extension of outdoor liquor sales hours, members of the community came forward voicing concerns with the change.

The ordinance allowed bars and restaurants with outdoor seating and beer gardens to sell alcohol until one hour before closing. It would permit sales until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and until 11 p.m. during the week.

Charlie Laing, owner of West Port apartments, 1015 W. State St., Sycamore, told the council that he is concerned with how the change in hours would affect his tenants. West Port is directly behind Ski’s American Pub, 1001 W. State St., Sycamore, the main beneficiary of the extended hours.

Laing said that his apartments are 60 feet away from the beer garden at Ski’s and allowing them to serve alcohol longer would create “potential” for noise disturbances.

When he was building property in the city, the council routinely told him to keep in mind the sensitivity of the neighbors, Laing said. This situation, Laing said, deals with the sensitivity of neighbors.

“Seventy-five percent of calls I get at night pertain to noise,” Laing said.

Lance Klinger, owner of Ski’s, said he did not feel any actions should be taken against his bar concerning noise because there is just a “potential” for noise.

“There is no noise yet,” Klinger said, referring to the fact that the beer garden has yet to open. “It’s easy to say something could happen.”

Laing and his wife, Kathy, also expressed their concern with parking at Ski’s and the tendency for Ski’s patrons to park on West Port’s lawn.

This past weekend, the Laings said they witnessed numerous occasions where people would park on their grass and damage it.

Klinger said he did what he could to stop that from happening, adding that he plans to erect a fence to stop people from parking on the grass.

After more than 30 minutes of discussing the issues of parking and noise, 3rd Ward Alderman Andrew Larson said he thought it would be best if the two parties met together to discuss their problems, so as to come to a conclusion before any legislative action can be taken.

The two parties agreed to meet with Larson and Sycamore Mayor John Swedberg before the March 29 meeting, when the issue will be revisited.

The council also approved a three-year contract extension between the city of Sycamore and the Sycamore Community Fire District for fire protection services and ambulance and medical service.

The contract gives fire and medical protection to rural areas of Sycamore.