The city appears near an agreement with a downtown Jacksonville bar to resolve issues that could have resulted in its liquor license being suspended almost a month.
Late Tuesday, City Attorney Dan Beard said a resolution likely would be reached with On the Rox Bar and Grill over a disciplinary action that is scheduled for discussion at a public hearing Friday.
The hearing could have resulted in On the Rox having its license suspended for 23 days.
Mayor Andy Ezard, who serves as the city liquor commissioner, said there was a letter and several calls to On the Rox to address fighting and inappropriate action that had taken place recently at the establishment.
“We’ve given them ideas on how they can make things better in their establishment,” Ezard said. “Our police officers have been getting called out to there for fighting and other actions. I certainly want to look out for our police officers and public safety for all their patrons.”
After not seeing progress to improve the issues, Ezard said the Liquor Board Commission — which includes aldermen Tony Williams and Don Cook — found it appropriate to take disciplinary action.
The area outside On the Rox was the location of a New Year’s Day street fight and officers have been called to the bar as recently as this weekend to address a fight and an individual carrying a loaded weapon without a permit.
At 12:20 a.m. Jan. 1, police arrested or cited six people on disorderly conduct and other charges, including battery and resisting a police officer.
No one responded from On the Rox to a message left seeking comment.
The public hearing is part of the appeal process and would allow for the owner of the bar and grill, Jay James, along with Dan Fults of Brown, Hay and Stephens, to show steps that were taken to correct the issues to have the duration of the suspension reduced or removed.
Ezard said that while he’s aware things can get rowdy in drinking establishments, repeat incidents in which police must intervene or patrons are endangered cannot be tolerated.
“I’m not naive. There are things that are going to happen in a bar, I know that,” Ezard said. “The actions that took place on New Year’s Day with the brawling out in the streets, we just can’t tolerate it anymore. As liquor commissioner, I felt it was unacceptable.”
