Liquor Control Board - January 20, 2022 Minutes
LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD
January 20, 2021 2:00 P.M.
Present: Commissioner Piepkorn, Kay Schwarzwalter, John Stibbe, Lydia Tackett, Robert Nelson
Absent: None
Others Present: Police Chief David Zibolski, City Auditor Sprague, City Attorney Nancy Morris, Rick Carik, Rick’s; Duane Litton, Duffy’s; Dan Labernik, Labby’s, Dave Glessner, Sidestreet; Tamera Garrett, Boss’ Pizza; Preston Nesemeier, FCPH and other interested parties.
Meeting was called to order at 2:00 P.M.
1. Commissioner Piepkorn called the meeting to order and asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of December 15, 2021. Schwarzwalter mentioned her name was spelled incorrectly in the minutes of December 15, 2021. Moved by Schwarzwalter, seconded by Tackett to approve the minutes as corrected of December 15, 2021 of the Liquor Control Board all voted in favor, motion passed unanimously.
2. A. Application to issue a Class F alcoholic beverage license to BPC Fargo LLC d/b/a Boss’ Pizza & Chicken to be located at 228 Broadway.
Sprague mentioned the applicant submitted a new person to review for the manager position. Sprague commented during the background investigation the applicant Ms. Garrett inferred that Ms. Knoell would be a 35% owner of the Fargo location and would also be the principle manager. Sprague said anyone with 5% ownership must be listed on the license according to the ordinance. Mr. Seefeldt requested to clarify the record, he said Ms. Knoell will assume a District Manager position in the company and will have increased ownership in the Grand Forks store, she will have no ownership in the Fargo and will oversee the Fargo and help get the Fargo store up and running. Ms. Garrett will be the Fargo manager. Mr. Seefeldt will have 100% ownership. Mr. Seefeldt also commented on the desire to have full alcohol, his goal is to feed the public and he doesn’t want someone to skip eating just because they can’t get a mixed drink. He commented, at the end of the day you are only as good as your worst employee. Piepkorn asked if these changes meet the requirements of the City, Sprague said they have met our requests.
Schwarzwalter said she was concerned with the number of full alcohol establishments in the downtown, she said she cannot support more full alcohol establishments without a look at the density issue.
Moved by Tackett, seconded by Stibbe to approve the issuance of the alcoholic beverage license to Boss’ Pizza. Voting in favor, Tackett, Stibbe, Nelson and Piepkorn, voting no is Schwarzwalter.
3. Chief Zibolski discussed the monthly reports. He reviewed the compliance failure at Sickies. No one was present to protest from Sickies. Tackett asked how many compliance checks were performed, Preston Nesemeier responded in December they were only able to line up one officer so the number of checks was limited to 13 with 12 passing or 92% compliant. Moved by Tackett, seconded by Schwarzwalter to follow the penalty matrix, motion passed unanimously.
Chief asked if there were any questions on the general monthly reports, there were none.
4. Sprague commented they received the list of businesses that failed to renew their liquor license with the State as of December 31, 2021. Sprague reminded the Board that businesses need to have both a State and local license in order to sell or server alcohol. The list has been forwarded to police for follow up.
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There being no further business to come before the Liquor Control Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.