MONROE - Monroe soon may offer business owners six more Class A packaged liquor licenses, but not without objections.
The Monroe Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee Monday night voted 3-1 to increase the quota of Class A licenses from six to 12, and asked City Attorney Rex Ewald to draft a change for the city ordinance.
The draft will come back to committee for review as soon as Ewald finishes the changes.
The increase first was proposed by Wal-Mart, which is seeking a license for the Supercenter that has been approved for Monroe.
Monday's vote came after a discussion the committee started at its June 3 meeting.
Committee member Chuck Koch said he was "not in favor of increasing (the number of) any of our liquor licenses" and then added that he would oppose anything that increases them - an indication he would against the increase if it comes before the City Council.
In the committee meeting June 3, Koch noted alcohol contributes to 30,000 deaths a year nationally, and said liquor should be "under lock and key until it is required."
Aldermen Keith Ingwell and Thurston Hanson appealed to the committee Monday to increase the quota.
Ingwell said during his council tenure, he's had people ask him about getting a liquor license; he's heard no objections from bar owners.
"I'd like to see this go through," he said.
Hanson made the same appeal, saying he knew of at least three convenience stores without a license. He was sure they each would like one.
"Walgreens is going to want one," he said, of the store that is scheduled to open in mid-July.
At the June 3 meeting, Hanson called liquor license quotas anti-business and anti-competition. The only thing stopping owners from applying for a license is the knowledge the city has reached its quota, he said.
Committee member Paul Hannes said the city was "pretty well flooded" with licenses, but felt an increase was acceptable.
Mayor Ron Marsh had suggested the committee consider a larger increase, of as many as nine or 12.
In December 2000, the council passed an ordinance restricting to 29 the combined total number of class A and class B intoxicating liquor licenses issued in the city.
Monroe has filled its Class A liquor licenses (six) and Class B liquor licenses (23). The Class B quota is set by the state. Class B licenses allow for liquor to be sold by the drink.
Wal-Mart requested March 27 that the city expand its quota on Class A Fermented Malt Beverage and Liquor licenses. Store management hopes to carry the products in a new store scheduled to open in 2009.
Monroe Wal-Mart Manager Ron Fager said his intention is to sell wine and beer. To accomplish that, Wal-Mart needs to have the intoxicating liquor license.
Committee members briefly discussed establishing a "use it or lose it" rule, for licenses that are held but not being used and for licenses "sold" for thousands of dollars to another business person. That prompted Ewald to reiterate a point he makes every few years.
"There is nothing to sell," Ewald said. "They are not sellable pieces of property."
Holders are not selling the license, but rather their cooperation in asking the city council for a transfer of their license to another individual or business, Ewald said.
In 2004, Ewald stated in a letter to committee members the city would need to adopt an ordinance defining standards of use for the licenses in order to legally be able to refuse to renew a license for non-use.
The Monroe Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee Monday night voted 3-1 to increase the quota of Class A licenses from six to 12, and asked City Attorney Rex Ewald to draft a change for the city ordinance.
The draft will come back to committee for review as soon as Ewald finishes the changes.
The increase first was proposed by Wal-Mart, which is seeking a license for the Supercenter that has been approved for Monroe.
Monday's vote came after a discussion the committee started at its June 3 meeting.
Committee member Chuck Koch said he was "not in favor of increasing (the number of) any of our liquor licenses" and then added that he would oppose anything that increases them - an indication he would against the increase if it comes before the City Council.
In the committee meeting June 3, Koch noted alcohol contributes to 30,000 deaths a year nationally, and said liquor should be "under lock and key until it is required."
Aldermen Keith Ingwell and Thurston Hanson appealed to the committee Monday to increase the quota.
Ingwell said during his council tenure, he's had people ask him about getting a liquor license; he's heard no objections from bar owners.
"I'd like to see this go through," he said.
Hanson made the same appeal, saying he knew of at least three convenience stores without a license. He was sure they each would like one.
"Walgreens is going to want one," he said, of the store that is scheduled to open in mid-July.
At the June 3 meeting, Hanson called liquor license quotas anti-business and anti-competition. The only thing stopping owners from applying for a license is the knowledge the city has reached its quota, he said.
Committee member Paul Hannes said the city was "pretty well flooded" with licenses, but felt an increase was acceptable.
Mayor Ron Marsh had suggested the committee consider a larger increase, of as many as nine or 12.
In December 2000, the council passed an ordinance restricting to 29 the combined total number of class A and class B intoxicating liquor licenses issued in the city.
Monroe has filled its Class A liquor licenses (six) and Class B liquor licenses (23). The Class B quota is set by the state. Class B licenses allow for liquor to be sold by the drink.
Wal-Mart requested March 27 that the city expand its quota on Class A Fermented Malt Beverage and Liquor licenses. Store management hopes to carry the products in a new store scheduled to open in 2009.
Monroe Wal-Mart Manager Ron Fager said his intention is to sell wine and beer. To accomplish that, Wal-Mart needs to have the intoxicating liquor license.
Committee members briefly discussed establishing a "use it or lose it" rule, for licenses that are held but not being used and for licenses "sold" for thousands of dollars to another business person. That prompted Ewald to reiterate a point he makes every few years.
"There is nothing to sell," Ewald said. "They are not sellable pieces of property."
Holders are not selling the license, but rather their cooperation in asking the city council for a transfer of their license to another individual or business, Ewald said.
In 2004, Ewald stated in a letter to committee members the city would need to adopt an ordinance defining standards of use for the licenses in order to legally be able to refuse to renew a license for non-use.