As the City of Balaton prepares for the budget season, the city council on Monday held a discussion of opening hours for the City-run liquor store for the upcoming year.
Store manager Ashley Haroldson brought a proposition of closing on Monday nights in the summer and remaining open on Sundays. Currently, Monday nights are the slowest at the establishment, with on and off sale liquor sales totals being less than the cost of staffing the store during those hours.
Haroldson mentioned how it would be more costeffective to open on Sundays so people could come in and watch football games. City Attorney Matthew Gross confirmed that it is legal for the liquor store to open for on and off sale on Sundays.
Public Works Director Josh Torgeson also gave a short report on Monday night, and included information about the well, located near the golf course, providing water to most of the city. The well pump has reached the end of its life, and needs replacing.
The council approved the purchase of a new well pump, along with installation labor costs. Torgelson reported an estimate of $6,340 for the project.
Councilman Greg Erickson reported that two new members, Kasey Holm and Josh Chandler, needed approval to be admitted to the EDA board. Councilman Tracy McCloud would be listed as an alternate, pending approval from Gross. However, no motion was made because of concerns McCloud raised regarding the fairness and transparency of the selection process, even going so far as to say he did not want to participate in any capacity because of how the council made its decisions.
The conversation was tabled for a later date.
The last bit of business the meeting covered was a concern from former city clerk Kimberly Wall regarding how a PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) payment was handled. The council decided to cover the cost of their oversight when Wall files her taxes in the new year.
