WELCOME - The Welcome City Council is expected to increase the number of local off-sale liquor licenses from one to three at its next meeting, Sept. 7.
"From the people we've spoken to, they think we're making a good decision," says Welcome Mayor Bocky Borchardt.
The off-sale liquor license debate has been ongoing all summer after Korte's Bar and Grill, located on County Road 26, reported several people who stopped in for off-sale liquor chose to go to Fairmont or Sherburn instead of patronizing Kathie's Bottle Shop, a liquor store and sole off-sale liquor license holder in Welcome.
Some have complained about the Bottle Shop, noting irregular hours and lack of desired product. Meanwhile, others have complained that offering more liquor licenses will take business out of downtown Welcome and put Kathie's Bottle Shop out of business. The council has stated that its intention is not to put anyone out of business, but that a good business should be able to stand on its own.
Both Korte's and the Welcome Legion, which is located downtown, have put in applications for off-sale licenses, pending city approval. From there, the state must approve the licenses.
"It probably takes about 30 days, though I've have seen some quicker turnaround," Borchardt noted.