Ad-Express and Daily Iowegian, Centerville, IA

Local News

December 11, 2009

Council tie vote on liquor license renewal

The Centerville City Council voted 2-2 Monday night on the liquor license renewal request made by Gordie L. Long, the owner of Gordie's Bar and Grill.

Voting to approve the renewal but with "concerns and reservations" were Kris Koestner and Rob Lind. Voting to not approve the renewal were Bill McAfee and Wallace "Moe" Carter.

Because of the tie vote, the liquor license renewal request failed. However, Gordie's is still allowed to serve alcohol, City Clerk Kris May said, because of what she called a "timely file."

What the council members who voted against the renewal want are assurances from the city’s three bars that they will cooperate with the police department regarding several issues, May said. In the meantime, May, city attorney Deb George and Police Chief Tom Demry are to talk with officials in Des Moines as to what steps the city can take in regards to Gordie’s.

Now Long has an additional government entity after her liquor license. The first being the state.

The administrator for the Alcoholic Beverages Division for the state of Iowa, Lynn Walding, ruled in September to uphold a law judge's decision to suspend Long's liquor license for 30 days for allegedly violating the Smokefree Air Act on several occasions. The 30-day suspension was scheduled to begin Nov. 9 and end Dec. 9.

Following Walding's final order, Long petitioned district court for judicial review of the Alcoholic Beverages Division order suspending her liquor license for 30 days and was granted a stay. The stay, signed by Judge Daniel P. Wilson, said Long had "sufficient likelihood" of success in its appeal of the ABD administrator's final order on at least one of the grounds of appeal, jurisdiction of the administrator and constitutional issues, to warrant a stay.

The ABD administrator's final order is suspended until a hearing is held by the district court on the merits of Long's petition for judicial review of agency action. As of Thursday afternoon, no time or date had been set for that hearing.

Text Only
Local News
Featured Ads
Poll

So, the question this week is, “Will it stay or will it go?” The United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. wants to close three Farm Service Agency offices in southern Iowa, which includes the FSA office in Centerville, and consolidate the operations in order to save money. Tuesday afternoon a meeting was held at Faith United Methodist Church to allow farmers and other producers who use the Centerville FSA office to make comments about the closing to John R. Whitaker, state executive director Iowa FSA. Many questioned if the meeting Tuesday was necessary because the decision had already been made.

A. Yes, because Washington will listen.
B. No, because the decision to close the Appanoose County FSA office has already been made.
     View Results
Obituaries
Iowegian on Facebook
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com