06.e Liquor License Renewals
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: December 17, 2024
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Re: Liquor License Renewals
Background:
Chapter 110 of the City’s Code of Ordinances regulates liquor licensing within the City of
Scandia. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department conducts compliance checks and reviews
license applications on behalf of the City. All annual licenses expire on December 31, 2024.
Issue:
Should renewal of the liquor licenses be approved for four businesses in Scandia?
Proposal Details:
The following businesses have applied for renewal of annual liquor licenses:
• Big Marine Lake Liquor Store, Off-Sale
• The Scandia Creamery, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• The Ozark Tavern, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• Meisters Bar & Grill, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
The applications are in conformance with the requirements of Chapter 110 of the City’s Code of
Ordinances. License fees have been paid for all four businesses and liquor liability insurance
certificates submitted as required by the ordinance. The Washington County Sheriff’s
Department has completed the required investigations for any issues that would prevent the
City from renewing the licenses, and have found no incidents to prevent renewals.
In January 2024, staff was informed of a compliance check failure which occurred at Big Marine
Lake Liquor Store on December 28, 2023 of an employee of the business. The City’s ordinance
states that no suspension or revocation shall take effect until the licensee has been afforded an
opportunity for a hearing. A hearing is not conducted until the case has made its way through
the County courts, which at this time remains unresolved. Once resolved, a public hearing will
be scheduled on the violation and a penalty may be imposed on the licensee.
Options:
1) Approve the renewal of liquor licenses for the following businesses:
• Big Marine Lake Liquor Store, Off-Sale
• The Scandia Creamery, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• The Ozark Tavern, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
• Meisters Bar & Grill, On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
2) Delay action on the liquor license renewals.
3) Do not approve the liquor license renewals.
Recommendation: Option 1.