Lack of detail on liquor license raises councilman's concern

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

McCOOK, Neb. — A McCook City Councilman is concerned about applications for liquor licenses not including security measures.

Councilman Jerry Calvin pulled from the consent agenda two applications for liquor licenses that were up for approval, one for the McCook Chamber of Commerce for a college rodeo at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds and another for Citta Deli’s anniversary party at their parking lot.

Calvin emphasized his concerns were not with the entities requesting the liquor licenses but the lack of details concerning security at the events. In the past, the applications did include what kind of measures would be in place, Calvin said, such as the perimeters of the event, the use of law enforcement and wrists bands for legal drinkers.

McCook City Clerk Lea Ann Doak said applications for special liquor licenses are now submitted online to the state , with the state releasing the information to the city. Whether the state requires security measures to be listed for the event she did not know, Doak said.

“Not that I don’t trust the Chamber….but how well is this event thought out,” Calvin wondered, when it’s a two-day college event that includes alcohol. He questioned the beginning time of the license, at 8 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. Doak said licenses typically cover the entire event from start to finish, including times alcohol is not necessarily served.

Calvin expressed frustration with no additional information available. Councilor Janet Hepp said as the event on county property, perhaps it could provide law enforcement but that would be entirely up to the county.

Councilman Calvin said the liquor license application from Citta Deli was “fraught with questions” for him, including if there would be a designated space in the parking lot for alcohol use, if there would be the use of wrist bands or if law enforcement would be present. The anniversary party is a great idea, Calvin said, he just didn’t want it to get out of hand and leave the business with a “black eye.”

“You can’t always control your customers,” he said, with another business down the street that also serves alcohol.

After discussion, Councilman Calvin and the rest of the council unanimously approved the two liquor licenses he pulled for discussion: one from Citta Deli for a St. Patrick’s Day/Anniversary party on March 16 in the Citta Deli parking lot, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and another for the McCook Chamber of Commerce for the Mid Plains Community College Rodeo March 15 and 16 at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Kiplinger Arena, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. each day.

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