BAXTER - A business interested in locating in Baxter asked the city council to consider making an ordinance change to allow liquor sales without requiring food service.
The city requires food service with its liquor code.
The request was to amend the code namely for a business offering dance lessons and performances. The business, which now operates in Perham, also proposed hosting large weddings of 400 to 500 guests along with live music. The council was told for the business model of ballroom dance lessons and others, the venue provided a place where those students could then use those skills.
In a report to the council, Kelly Steele, assistant city administrator, reported the business, which she didn't name, was denied a license to sell alcohol on two previous occasions but that changed after the state agreed to reclassify the business as a theater.
"Staff is having a difficult time preparing language to amend the city code to allow the sale of alcohol to a specific use without allowing similar uses the ability to request a license," Steele wrote in a memo. "For example, if the city issues a liquor license to this individual, could a bar, without the sale of food, request a license on the grounds they are issuing tickets and offering live music or dancing?"
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Steele noted both could argue they should be classified as a theater. The Twin Cities issues licenses to specific theaters through special legislation.
"Without seeking special legislation for a specific theater, staff is unable to determine how to best amend the city code to license the sale of alcohol for a specific use without having to license other similar uses."
The council agreed. Council members said they were not in favor of changing the city ordinance.
In other business, the council:
Set the final special assessment interest rate for 2015 improvement projects at 3.50 percent.
Approved an agreement for snow removal services for the winter of 2015-2016 with DeChantal Excavating, which provided the low quote for snow removal. DeChantal Excavating handled the snow removal last winter. Staff recommended using the firm again.
Approved an off-sale liquor license for Sarah Hollenkamp, doing business as Westside Liquor. The license is good from Nov. 4 to June 30, 2016. Hollenkamp bought the business from Kjerbeersten LLC.
Agreed to host the 2016 Cal Ripkin Midwest Regional Baseball 9-U Tournament at Oscar Kristofferson Park next summer.
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There are eight teams expected in the tournament from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Canada. The week-long event is expected to bring in more than 500 families into the area. Total cost to the city is expected to be $2,842 to $3,152, looking at costs for parks staff and items such as line markers and field supplies, along with costs for extra trash disposal. The city reported the costs are covered in the 2016 budget.
RENEE RICHARDSON, associate editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz .
