At the August 25 meeting of the city council, the purchase of three new updated mobile radios for squad vehicles at a total cost of $21,520 from Motorola Solutions was approved. The price includes services and equipment.
Police Chief Shane Fox noted the radios currently in use are 20 years old.
Liquor License Violation
Chief Fox led an investigation into a potential liquor license violation. This led to a long discussion at today’s meeting. Arthur LLC, L.L.C. had been issued an on-sale intoxicating liquor license. Jac’s Bar & Grill therefore is a “licensed premises.”
During Western Days on Saturday and Sunday Jac’s Bar & Grill opened for food service at 1:20 a.m. until 3 a.m., after ushering customers out of his business around 1:10 a.m.
City Attorney Fred Suhler explained the provisions of Section 4-22 (a) of the Chatfield Code that will not allow any person other than an employee or the licensee to remain on the premises during the time when the sale of intoxicating liquor is prohibited. Chief Fox provided a written report that establishes that the licensee was knowingly in violation of Section 4-22(a).
Because Jac’s has a liquor license, the manager was informed that he will need to abide by the ordinance and have no customers after the 1:10 a.m. time. There is no distinction between the sale of intoxicating liquor or food service on a “licensed premises.” Alcohol cannot be legally sold until 8 a.m. the next morning.
Suhler said the manager was told days before through e-mails from the police chief, city staff, and himself that he would not be able to reopen at 1:20 a.m. as a restaurant. Because he has a liquor license, he is governed by that license. He opened at 1:20 a.m. those two days intentionally after being told not to.
There was discussion about updating the liquor license ordinance to allow the business to be opened when in use only as a restaurant. Jac’s has been open on weekends for breakfast at 6 a.m., not as a bar. Staff or council members hadn’t recognized this as a violation and had not told him he could not open for the 6 a.m. breakfast (liquor ordinance has an 8 a.m. opening). A restaurant that doesn’t have a liquor license does not have restrictions on when it can be open.
Councilor Paul Novotny said these are two separate things. The ordinance has to be upgraded. The 6 a.m. breakfast could be allowed in an amended ordinance. Novotny said there should be a fine because he violated the ordinance by opening shortly after closing during Western Days, after being informed that he could not reopen as a restaurant after closing at 1:10 a.m.
Councilors were in agreement that he should be fined for the reopening during Western Days. They seemed to agree the 6 a.m. breakfast should be allowed in an amended ordinance.
Due to the blatant disregard of the direction to not reopen as a restaurant at 1:20 a.m. during Western Days, the city council unanimously passed a resolution imposing a $500 fine for each of the two violations totaling $1,000 to be paid within 45 days (October 9).
A motion was approved directing staff to start the process to amend the liquor ordinance so that a business holding a liquor license could be open for an early breakfast before 8 a.m.
Other Business in Brief
- Ordinance 479 Drainage of Pool Water Update was approved as was its publication.
- An increase in the Chatfield Fire Department Retirement Plan to a benefit level of $4,000 starting on January 1, 2026, was approved. Fire Chief Luke Thieke noted they are 35% over funded this year; the increase will keep the department in compliance. The increase was recommended by Public Services Committee.
- Among the items discussed during the Committee of the Whole was a possible change in water and sewer rates. A draft of the 2026 budget was reviewed.
- A resolution was adopted disbursing funds for CCTV. There no longer is a need to maintain a fund for CCTV, so those funds will be disbursed, transferred or closed. At the June 23 meeting the council approved a motion to transfer CCTV operations from the city to Chatfield Public Schools.
- Personnel Policy 2.04 Appearance was approved as recommended by Personnel Budget Committee.
- Mayor John McBroom reported the passing of Margaret Perkins, a former Chatfield mayor.
- Ambulance donations in the amount of $2,475 were accepted.
- The city of Chatfield entered into an agreement for the 2025 Southeast Minnesota Transportation Management Organization (TMO) project.
- A donation in the amount of $2,135 from the Chatfield Firefighters Activity Association to be used for the purchase of ambulance AED was approved.