| Sebeka Council approves liquor license for Legion |
| Written by REBECCA KOMPPA |
|
The Sebeka American Legion was granted a regular on-sale liquor license and a Sunday liquor license during the October 13 meeting of the Sebeka City Council. Legion Club manager Carl Kuha was present at the Tuesday meeting. City Clerk/Treasurer Sally Sandberg reported that the Legion had provided the required Certificate of Liability Insurance, and that payment for the licenses had also been received. However, the Legion paid only $100 for the Sunday liquor license; the fee is actually $200. The new licenses will take effect November 1, with the Sunday liquor license contingent upon payment of an additional $100. In the meantime, the council approved the Legion Club’s applications for temporary on-sale liquor licenses for public events scheduled for October 17 and 24. Kuha hinted at the possibility of the council lowering the fee for the regular liquor license, which is $1200/annually, noting the Legion’s dire situation. Mike Polla, a special investigator for the state’s Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement Division, had told the council at their special meeting on September 26 that a liquor license fee should accurately reflect the cost of issuing and enforcing that license. Those costs would include related council meetings, administrative costs associated with issuing the license, and the cost of any police work to enforce the license. Polla also noted that grants are available from his department to cover police expenses. Mayor David Anderson responded to Kuha’s remarks laughingly, stating that fees were set in January, and that the council will take up their fee schedule again next January, effectively putting an end to that inquiry. Kuha then informed the council that “this episode” had caught the eye of USA Newsweek, out of Chicago, IL. He stated that he had one conversation with Newsweek and that there would be another. “They’re waiting to see how you people are behaving,” Kuha stated. He reported that Newsweek was doing a survey on small businesses and that the Sebeka Legion had caught their eye. He did not know the reason why. “Front page, cover story?” queried Councilmember Lowell Stewart. “I hope not,” Kuha replied. Kuha said that the Legion’s woes have resulted in a lot of “noise” in the community. However, he added, on a positive note, everyone is working hard to resolve the situation. “There have been some toes stepped on, and I am sorry about that,” he said. Mike Heino approached the council on behalf of the Legion’s charitable gambling committee. In three consecutive resolutions, the council renewed the Legion’s charitable gambling license for another year, and approved premise permits for both the municipal liquor store and Post 456. The Legion pays $75/month to lease space in the municipal liquor store for their charitable gambling enterprise. |