MONROE - The Monroe City Council on Tuesday passed an alcohol ordinance amendment creating six new Class A licenses to sell hard liquor by the package.
On a 7-2 vote, the amendment also allows the city, under state limits, one more regular Class B license for selling alcohol by the drink, and a Reserve Class B license.
Aldermen Charles Koch and Neal Hunter voted against amendment.
In the process, the city also added a supplement application, which will be a seven-page form of questions ranging from the type of establishment and number of parking stalls on the premises to management experience and promotion plans for the business.
The ordinance changes come after Walmart requested the city increase its number of licenses. Walmart manager Ron Fager said the company wants to sell wine and beer at its new Supercenter. But the city's code limited the number of Class A licenses and Class B licenses.
The State of Wisconsin sets the limit of Class B licenses, so the council divided the two classes, and set the Class A to 12, or six more than it had issued.
Council also voted 8-1 to increase the fees for Class A and Class B Fermented Malt Beverage licenses from $25 to $100. Council member Paul Hannes was absent.
The Reserve Class B will cost $10,000, but the resolution includes an economic development grant and procedure for obtaining up to $10,000 for improvements made to the licensed premises.
Koch also voted against the new fees.
During each discussion, after motions were made, Koch appealed to his fellow aldermen.
"We are increasing the Class A (license) by double the amount. I don't see why this is a good benefit to the city," he said to the council. "There has been too much alcohol-related problems in the past; there will be more in the future."
Koch has spoken out against increasing the number of alcohol licenses in committees since Walmart's request was made.
With the new liquor licenses in place, Walmart was granted a Class A (packaged) Liquor and Fermented Malt Beverage alcohol license Tuesday, on a 7-2 vote. Koch and Alderman Jan Lefevre voted against the resolution.
In addition, a new establishment, Poncho and Lefty's Tex-Mex Grill, LLC, at 1018 17th Ave., on the Square, was granted a Class "B" Restaurant Fermented Malt Beverage and a "Class C" Wine License, on a (8-1) vote. Koch voting against.
On a 7-2 vote, the amendment also allows the city, under state limits, one more regular Class B license for selling alcohol by the drink, and a Reserve Class B license.
Aldermen Charles Koch and Neal Hunter voted against amendment.
In the process, the city also added a supplement application, which will be a seven-page form of questions ranging from the type of establishment and number of parking stalls on the premises to management experience and promotion plans for the business.
The ordinance changes come after Walmart requested the city increase its number of licenses. Walmart manager Ron Fager said the company wants to sell wine and beer at its new Supercenter. But the city's code limited the number of Class A licenses and Class B licenses.
The State of Wisconsin sets the limit of Class B licenses, so the council divided the two classes, and set the Class A to 12, or six more than it had issued.
Council also voted 8-1 to increase the fees for Class A and Class B Fermented Malt Beverage licenses from $25 to $100. Council member Paul Hannes was absent.
The Reserve Class B will cost $10,000, but the resolution includes an economic development grant and procedure for obtaining up to $10,000 for improvements made to the licensed premises.
Koch also voted against the new fees.
During each discussion, after motions were made, Koch appealed to his fellow aldermen.
"We are increasing the Class A (license) by double the amount. I don't see why this is a good benefit to the city," he said to the council. "There has been too much alcohol-related problems in the past; there will be more in the future."
Koch has spoken out against increasing the number of alcohol licenses in committees since Walmart's request was made.
With the new liquor licenses in place, Walmart was granted a Class A (packaged) Liquor and Fermented Malt Beverage alcohol license Tuesday, on a 7-2 vote. Koch and Alderman Jan Lefevre voted against the resolution.
In addition, a new establishment, Poncho and Lefty's Tex-Mex Grill, LLC, at 1018 17th Ave., on the Square, was granted a Class "B" Restaurant Fermented Malt Beverage and a "Class C" Wine License, on a (8-1) vote. Koch voting against.