The City of Cottage Grove is waiving liquor license fees for 2021 to help local restaurant get a good start to this year. As of this week, restaurants are able to reopen at 50 percent capacity. In …
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The City of Cottage Grove is waiving liquor license fees for 2021 to help local restaurant get a good start to this year.
As of this week, restaurants are able to reopen at 50 percent capacity.
In December, the council voted unanimously to not charge for 2021 licenses until they were able to open at full capacity.
“As the pandemic continues into 2021, businesses will still be impacted,” wrote Christine Costello, Economic Development Director, in a memo to the City Council. “Consideration of waiving the 2021 liquor license fee may provide these businesses the opportunity to ‘get ahead’ on other business expenses such as payroll for employees, paying rent and utilities, etc. The waiver may be considered a small gesture, but from the conversations with the elected state officials and many Cottage Grove businesses, assistance in any amount is appreciated during this unprecedented time.” Money to cover general fund loss of revenue by the move will be transferred from the Economic Development Authority Fund. The total amount of not charging for the licenses is $51,200.
The following are the fees to be waived.
Liquor, on sale, $6,200 each to Applebee’s, Carbone’s Kitchen and Pub, Hy-Vee, Junction 70 Grill, Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, River Oaks Golf Course and Muddy Cow. In addition, Muddy Cow had a license for on-sale intoxicating liquor until 2 a.m. for $6,200.
Hope Glen had a $600 license for 3.2 percent malt liquor on sale, as well as a $300 license for “liquor – consumption and display.” VFW Point 8752 had a $300 license for on sale liquor for 201-500 members.
“At the December 16th Legislative Agenda meeting with our elected state officials, part of the discussion focussed on restaurant and bar industry and concerns they were facing. Discussion included the recent action by the Dakota County Board who voted unanimously to waive annual liquor license fees in 2021 for bars, restaurants, golf courses and event venues as a way to help local businesses state afloat during the pandemic,” wrote Costello.
The matter was approved last Wednesday as part of the council’s unanimous consent agenda, and there was no council comment on the matter at the meeting.
