Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Illinois Mayor Vetoes Settlement Of Zoning Dispute
The mayor of Carlinville, Illinois has vetoed City Council's 5-4 approval of a mediated settlement in a zoning controversy with the Carlinville Southern Baptist Church. Yesterday's Alton (IL) Telegraph reports that the settlement would have allowed the use of an old Wal-Mart building, zoned for commercial use, as a church. It would also have required the city to pay the church $175,000. The city had sued to prevent the church from occupying the building, and the church responded with a federal lawsuit in which the court ruled that the church could use the building for offices and a day care center, and could remodel the building's interior. The mayor's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of Council