Caledonia Argus

Public hearing on liquor license is April 1

Posted: 3/11/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The public will have an opportunity to give input on a proposed on/off sale liquor license in Money Creek Township at a public hearing on Tuesday, April 1, at 11 a.m.

At the county boardís meeting of March 4, Dennis Dalen, an attorney for Eleanor Coulson, asked that the board grant approval for the requested licenses at that meeting. The proposed business that would be using the licenses is the ìPit Stop,î a combination convenience store, sports bar and grill.

Eleanor Coulson is the applicant for the liquor license, and her son Corey has been speaking on her behalf at township and county meetings.

ìShe is the true applicant,î said Dalen of Mrs. Coulson. ìCorey has paid for materials and done some work, but has no financial interest in the project.î

Corey Coulson has a felony conviction for a non-violent crime and cannot hold a liquor license himself.

According to Dalen, Minnesotaís attorney general has ruled that the wife of a convicted felon can hold a liquor license.

ìIf it can be a wife, certainly it can be a mother,î he told commissioners.

Dalen noted that all the proper paperwork and applications have been submitted.

ìOnce someone has met all the criteria, you must grant the license,î he said.

County Attorney Rick Jackson pointed out that state law requires that a public hearing be held before an off-sale license can be granted.

ìThat meeting has not been scheduled. The board would violate the law by approving the license today,î said Jackson. He added that he is not inclined to agree that all questions have been answered. He also mentioned that numerous Money Creek township residents have been to board meetings and have an interest in the matter. He recommended that the board set a public hearing so that all concerns could be addressed.

Dalen asked the board to consider only the on-sale license at that time and hold the public hearing at a later date for the off-sale. Jackson said he would be concerned that proper notice was not given, and that the application was for a combination on/off sale license. He said that the delay is causing financial hardships for his client.

The board agreed on April 1 on the date for the hearing in order to provide two weekís notice in local newspapers.

Top of Page