Caledonia Argus

Commissioners table decision on liquor license in Money Creek

Posted: 1/14/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The Houston County Board has tabled a request to grant a liquor license to Elenor Coulson of Money Creek township until it sorts out some of the issues related to the matter.

At the county board meeting January 7, Corey Coulson of Money Creek township spoke to commissioners regarding the liquor license application, which was made in his motherís name. Coulson has a felony conviction and cannot by law hold a license himself.

Coulson told commissioners that the Money Creek Town Board approved his plans for the ìPit Stop Bar and Grillî at its August 1 meeting. The minutes of the meeting state that ìCarl Ask and Corey Coulson was present to get the boards OK for Cory to change his existing building into a bar and grill. The land has already been zoned commercial. He has to get the boards OK before applying for the permits. Board gave their OK.î Coulson maintained that all the proper procedures have been followed.

There were no representatives from the town board present.

A Money Creek township resident, Charlie Chapel, told commissioners that he heard rumors about the bar and attended the October meeting to ask whether the town board approved a liquor license, and the board responded that it had not.

In November, township officials were presented with a petition signed by township residents against liquor sales in the township and also against adult entertainment in the township. Coulson said residents were misled because of the adult entertainment question on the petition. He also said an article in Houstonís newspaper, The Banner, also suggested that adult entertainment in the form of exotic dancing would be offered at the Pit Stop.

ìPeople have the wrong impression,î Coulson told the board.

David Jorde, who was one of the residents responsible for circulating the petition, said that the exotic dancing portion of the petition was included to prevent a situation similar to one in Stewartville where an adult entertainment business opened because there was no ordinance against it.

ìIt was no insinuation against them, but we wanted to protect against that possibility,î said Jorde.

The first part of the petition spoke against liquor sales in the township.

On December 5, the town board decided to bring the two questions to voters at a special election on January 14. However, at the township meeting of January 2, supervisors announced that the election could not be held because the 49-day notice requirement could not be met.

When contacted later by The Argus, Terry Chiglo, attorney for the township, explained that the township does not grant liquor licenses; it can only give or withhold consent for the license. If it withholds consent, the county cannot move on the application.

In response to a question from Commissioner Nels Gulbranson, Coulson said that he will lease the building for the business from his mother. He plans to have a bar and grill and will also have a small convenience and off-sale liquor store.

ìItís been 50 years since anything new was built (in the township),î said Coulson. ìNo one has any legitimate complaint against it.î

Also in attendance at the meeting was Jim Belter, who told commissioners that he would be manager of the establishment. He expects that between 13 and 15 people will be hired.

Commissioner Kevin Kelleher recommended that the board table the matter.

ìThe town board should be here to stand for questions,î he commented.

County attorney Rick Jackson noted that an off-sale liquor license cannot be issued without a public hearing.

Another issue raised at the meeting was whether Money Creek is a dry township. Some township residents claim the township voted liquor out in 1945 and reaffirmed the decision in 1946. Coulson said he has checked with the state and can find no record of the township being dry.

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