When the Bent Wrench Bar & Grill in downtown Fountain closed in 2017, local business owners Mike Drury and Michelle Redalen, of Drury’s Furniture, opted to purchase the space in hopes of filling it with a thriving business again. “We bought it with the intention of seeing a business in there; to keep it from sitting dead,” said Drury. “We’ve been hoping and praying someone like these two would come. You know we need it. It’s good to have more businesses in town.”
This statement was directed to the Fountain Council and a standing-room only crowd at the Wednesday, March 7 council meeting. Drury was referring to the business team of Jody Wiza and Laura Shroeder, who have a signed purchase agreement in place with Drury and Redalen for the building. The women plan to open a multi-faceted opportunity with businesses split in the building; salon in the front and a restaurant and bar in back.
Wiza has run a successful salon in Dover for more 14 years. In May of last year, she opened a bar business adjacent to her salon. She and business partner, Shroeder, are now looking to do the same in Fountain, which sits conveniently off Highway 52, getting plenty of traffic between Iowa and Rochester area commuters.
As part of the bar business, Wiza and Shroeder will be submitting applications for on-sale, off-sale, and Sunday liquor licenses. At the time of the meeting, however, Fountain had only one off-sale license, allowing customers to purchase alcohol and take it off premises. That license is held by Jackie Hrstka and Ron Huey, who secured the license in 2017 for their business, Huey’s Liquor. According to Mayor Richard Kujath and former council member Tom Larson, who was also in attendance, the city having only one license stems back to when the city ran a municipal liquor store. It was noted that there is no legal reason why the city cannot amend the ordinance to allow for two licenses.
For Hrstka and Huey, that was tough to swallow. The proposed business sits less than 100 feet north of Huey’s Liquor. According to the pair, when they approached the council last summer, they made it clear they wanted the only off-sale license. “It’s still a competition; two businesses doing the same thing in a very small town. We said we wouldn’t even consider opening unless we had the only off-sale license,” recalled Hrstka.
Wiza offered up the option of keeping her off-sale hours closed during times when Huey’s Liquor is open. Currently, that’s Wednesday and Thursdays, from 3-8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, from 1-8 p.m. “Our hours are not cast in stone,” added Huey. “The reason we wanted the only license is that we needed some flexibility.”
Wiza added she would eventually like to pay to bus people from the area campgrounds to her establishment on the summer weekends. “That’s just me, trying to work with people,” said Wiza. “Competition brings people; people bring money.” Wiza also noted she’d spoken with Karst Brewery about the possibility of having a Karst brew keg in the bar and didn’t get any pushback from owner Eric Luoma.
Hrstka and Huey were still hesitant about an honor system of which business is open during what hours. There is no legal standing if one party violates the understanding and Mayor Kujath noted any such agreement would be between property owners and that the city would be no part of it. “I hate to see conflict,” said Kujath.
The council was notably quiet, as was pointed out by one attendee, taking 55 minutes to listen to public opinion and weigh the options. None of the council remembered granting exclusivity to Huey’s off-sale license and reviewed minutes from the council meeting didn’t indicate any promised exclusivity.
“You want to have a new business in town? Here’s your chance,” said Drury. “We’re not trying to do any harm. Having more people in town raises the boats for everyone. Anytime you can get people in town, it’s great.”
“There are so many small towns with closed doors. I’d hate to see us in five years say, ‘If only,’” added Redalen.
“An opportunity for the community is looking you in the face,” added Drury.
Councilor David Gudmundson motioned to amend the city ordinance to allow for a second off-sale license. It was seconded by Councilor Chad Wangen. It was approved unanimously. Councilor Jim Schott was absent from the meeting.
Wiza and Shroeder plan to open the business May 1, although it was noted not every service will be ready at that time. The building will be completely overhauled, including flooring, walls, and renovated and expanded bathrooms to include handicap accessibility. “I’m willing to work with the community. This is something different; something new. That’s why we’re here.”
Both Kujath and City Clerk Rhonda Flattum recommended Wiza and Schroeder keep the council up to date and check with the council prior to making any changes to their plans. “We don’t like surprises,” cautioned Kujath.
In other news, the city reviewed several zoning items, including the underway deconstruction of the former elevator and grain mill. Paul Hamann is planning on replacing the existing facilities with a 144 by 80-foot warehouse with 40 by 40-foot offices in the front of the building. The site will sell crop seed and various animal feeds.
Upon reviewing the blueprints, Kujath noted that the plans sit atop two former septic tanks, just south of second street. “You can’t build over tanks and there are two. They’ll have to deal with that.” The council directed Clerk Flattum to discuss the matter with Hamann before the council can look at approving building plans.
The council did approve the purchase of a large bulk tank for the wastewater treatment plant. At the February meeting, PeopleService representative Rick Whitney requested one of two bulk options for the plant, in effort to reduce expenditures. The new tank is expected to pay for itself in just over a year and will save the city thousands on treatment costs.
Also in new business, the council was briefed on efforts by City Attorney Dwight Luhmann to update the city’s Personnel Policy. A letter, drafted by Luhmann, highlights key areas of concern with the policy. One of the “substantive changes” suggested involved making sure employees are “at will.” According to Luhmann, this allows firing for any or no reason. “The policy needs to be very clear in this regard,” wrote Luhmann. Other organizational and format changes will need to be made. A draft of the policy is expected at the April council meeting.
During the meeting, the city was presented with a favorable audit report from Smith, Schafer & Associates. Principal Tom Wente was in attendance with the report.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m., at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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