Church Members Object to Augusta Winery Moving In Across Highway 94

The St. Charles County Council soon will see if wine and church can mix.

About 25 Immaculate Conception Catholic Church members attended Monday’s county council meeting to oppose a proposed winery across Highway 94 from the church property.

Tony Kooyumjian told the council he wants to move his Augusta Winery to the new location because his business has dropped off since newer wineries have opened along Highway 94.

“Our family made a business decision that it would be in our best interest to move to Highway 94,” he said.

Several church members spoke against the proposal Monday.

“Is there really any debate that the winery, with loud music and intoxicated people, (affects) the property of our 100-year-old church and what its use is intended for?” asked Martin Struckhoff, one church member.

“We’re not against wineries as a whole, but no more are needed on our dangerous road area, but putting one right across from our 100-year-old church we believe is wrong,” Struckhoff said.

The proposed winery would be at the corner of highways 94 and T across from the church.

Council Chairman Joe Brazil, R-District 2, said he wants to sit down with the Immaculate Conception Church Council and Kooyumjian to iron out any differences. Brazil said first he wanted to make sure a compromise was possible.

“Is it just ‘Absolutely no, we don’t want a winery, we don’t want to work this out,’? Ok, that’s one perspective,” Brazil said.

Dave Behlman, chairman of the Immaculate Conception Church Council, and Kooyumjian agreed to meet with Brazil to work on possible compromises. After the meeting, Kooyumjian said he didn’t oppose compromises such as building a berm and adding trees to muffle noise. However, he said he isn’t sure about moving the winery building further back from the road.

“You want people on Highway 94 to be able to see the winery,” he said. “That’s why you locate on Highway 94.”

During discussion, Kooyumjian said he and his family have been growing grapes and making wine for 31 years, starting with Winery of the Little Hills in St. Charles. He pointed out that Noboleis Winery is nearby on Highway 94.

Behlman, told council members, “We are neutral about what goes on the opposite side of the road from the church. However, we do have some concerns. We are concerned this is a public safety issue.”

Those concerns include the winery’s entrance location, traffic, winery patrons parking in the church lot, buses dropping off people who walk through the church property and music and noise from the winery.

Kooyumjian said he believes the entrance on Highway 94 would be safer than a Highway T entrance because there are better sight lines on Highway 94.

Behlman said he believes inappropriate music would be heard from the winery during funerals, which might occur during peak winery hours.

Cindy Kooyumjian, Tony’s wife, said they also are members of the Immaculate Conception parish.

“I love our church, I respect our church,” Cindy said.

She said music would not be played during church services, and said they would not play music during funerals.

“I would absolutely stop the music. It would be a great message to our community to say ‘We care about you.’”

Brazil said someone approached him about putting a gas station at the corner of highways 94 and T. He said he didn’t believe that would be the best use for the property.

 “There’s two state highways there. Something is going to happen with that corner, so what we need to decide is what’s going to be the best use for that corner?” he said.