06.e Liquor License Renewals
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: December 16, 2025
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, 2025.
Several businesses were approved for renewal at the November 18, 2025 City Council meeting.
Issue:
Should renewal of the liquor licenses be approved for two 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 applications are in conformance with the requirements of Chapter 110 of the City’s Code of
Ordinances. License fees have been paid and liquor liability insurance certificates submitted as
required by the ordinance. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department is completing the
required investigations for any issues that would prevent the City from renewing the licenses.
Approval will be conditioned on having 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 was conducted on August 19, 2025 and a penalty imposed
on the licensee. A $1,000 fine has been paid and the license will be suspended on January 25-
27, 2026.
Options:
1) Approve the renewal of liquor licenses for the following businesses, conditioned on
investigation results that do not prevent renewals:
• Big Marine Lake Liquor Store, Off-Sale
• The Scandia Creamery, 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.