Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A week after setting the table for a 1 a.m. closing time, the Springfield city council Tuesday agreed on a 2 a.m. close for all of the city’s bars, effective in January.

That compromise still was not enough for those who work in bars which now have a 3 a.m. license.

David Stevens, an employee of Celtic Mist, told the council, “Just for me, personally, losing an hour or two hours in a week is worth, to me, $3,000 a year. That’s $3,000 I’m not spending at local businesses.”

Downtown resident Sheila Ryan said, “What scares me is living downtown in a ghost town. I want to see people downtown.”

The council vote was 8-2 for the compromise. Alds. Shawn Gregory and Roy Williams voted against.

In addition to public safety concerns, a reason to eliminate the 3 a.m. license was to bring Springfield into line with Sangamon County, where 1 a.m. is the rule. Decatur has a 2 a.m. closing time.