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The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department ordered Madsen’s Bowling & Billiards to shut its doors Saturday after observing violations of the latest Directed Health Measure (DHM). The order was in effect from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday and included EJ’S Lounge & Grill at the same location on Dudley Street.General manager Ben Madsen said they were barely an hour into a pool tournament when they were informed they had to close. The pool hall chose to keep the establishment open. “I think it is up to every body who enters our establishment to be responsible for their own health and their own situation,” said Ben Madsen.City officials said they will now pursue civil legal action next week. In a statement sent to KETV Newswatch 7, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said, “The DHM states that failure to comply will result in legal action for enforcement by civil and/or criminal remedies. According to the LMC, ‘any person who is found to have violated any provision of this Order within the City of Lincoln shall be guilty of a City Misdemeanor and subjected to a fine of no more than $500, or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months, or both. Each day that a violation of this Order continues is punishable as a separate and distinct offense.’” Health Director Pat Lopez said the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department met with Madsen’s management on Wednesday. Health officials said they continued to receive complaints of DHM violations at the pool hall after the meeting. Health officials said they conducted an investigation on Friday and found several violations including signs that indicated masks were optional, employees not wearing masks and no social distancing. “Trying to keep the doors open is our number one priority and we’ve done our best to follow the rules, however, some of them slip by us as they do everybody else,” said Ben Madsen.Owner Marty Madsen said the order is a blow to small businesses who are struggling amid the pandemic.”We’re really begging for this because we’re way behind the last 6 months of people not coming in here. We’re going to try to take a little bit advantage of getting some profit back,” he said.The owner said that during Saturday’s pool tournament players were sanitizing and trying to social distance when not in games.City Attorney Yohance Christie said “it is the responsibility of businesses to follow the DHM requirements, and no legal action would be taken against customers of the business.”
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department ordered Madsen’s Bowling & Billiards to shut its doors Saturday after observing violations of the latest Directed Health Measure (DHM). The order was in effect from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday and included EJ’S Lounge & Grill at the same location on Dudley Street.
General manager Ben Madsen said they were barely an hour into a pool tournament when they were informed they had to close. The pool hall chose to keep the establishment open.
“I think it is up to every body who enters our establishment to be responsible for their own health and their own situation,” said Ben Madsen.
City officials said they will now pursue civil legal action next week.
In a statement sent to KETV Newswatch 7, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said, “The DHM states that failure to comply will result in legal action for enforcement by civil and/or criminal remedies. According to the LMC, ‘any person who is found to have violated any provision of this Order within the City of Lincoln shall be guilty of a City Misdemeanor and subjected to a fine of no more than $500, or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months, or both. Each day that a violation of this Order continues is punishable as a separate and distinct offense.’”
Health Director Pat Lopez said the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department met with Madsen’s management on Wednesday. Health officials said they continued to receive complaints of DHM violations at the pool hall after the meeting.
Health officials said they conducted an investigation on Friday and found several violations including signs that indicated masks were optional, employees not wearing masks and no social distancing.
“Trying to keep the doors open is our number one priority and we’ve done our best to follow the rules, however, some of them slip by us as they do everybody else,” said Ben Madsen.
Owner Marty Madsen said the order is a blow to small businesses who are struggling amid the pandemic.
“We’re really begging for this because we’re way behind the last 6 months of people not coming in here. We’re going to try to take a little bit advantage of getting some profit back,” he said.
The owner said that during Saturday’s pool tournament players were sanitizing and trying to social distance when not in games.
City Attorney Yohance Christie said “it is the responsibility of businesses to follow the DHM requirements, and no legal action would be taken against customers of the business.”
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