ST. PAUL (AP) -- Mayor Randy Kelly told the city staff on Friday to let a pair of young girls continue to operate their drink stand after a city inspector ordered them to shut down because they didn't have a license to peddle soft drinks, which they kept in a little blue cooler.

"Leave the little girls alone" was the directive to the staff after Kelly learned about the issue from local newspapers, according to a statement from Kelly's office. He said the city's enforcement policy needs further review and discussion by the city council.

Mikaela Ziegler, 7, and her 4-year-old sister, Annika, were selling refreshments Wednesday afternoon near the State Fairgrounds when an inspector from the city's Office of License Inspections and Environmental Protection arrived.

"She said, 'You can't sell pop unless you have a license,"' Mikaela said.

Their outraged father, Dr. Richard Ziegler, called City Hall for an explanation. He was told that St. Paul is cracking down on unauthorized merchants and that his daughters would be free to hawk their drinks once they obtained a $60 license.

"Is there anything sacred anymore?" he asked.