County adopts nearest-municipality liquor-fee rule; approves temporary and transferred liquor licenses

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 adopted a perpetual resolution to set off- and on-sale liquor-license fees based on the nearest municipality’s fee schedule, a change the county attorney said aligns Lincoln with neighboring counties.

Deputy state's attorney Joe Meter summarized the proposal: "If that is so, we would charge that individual $25,000. If it's outside the growth area, we would charge a $175,000. This is going to change it to us just asking what is the closest municipality in which this license is gonna go to," he said, adding the county would mirror the municipality’s rate (examples cited during the hearing included Sioux Falls and Lennox).

The board also approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for Prosper Country Warehouse for events on Aug. 30, Sept. 6 and Sept. 26, 2025 following a brief hearing with no opposition.

Separately, the board approved transfer of a retail on-sale liquor license from Spring Creek Country Club to 4 Score LLC. Applicant Dan Grevelis described plans to keep the golf course public and to make clubhouse and course updates. "Our goal is to keep it a public course," Grevelis said, and he outlined planned repairs and clubhouse improvements.

Public testimony included warnings that changing how fees are set could disadvantage small rural operators. Nancy Kirstine, who holds several event licenses for a farm venue, said the current $175,000 fee for locations outside growth areas is prohibitive and that a change to a municipality-based rate might leave some owners unable to afford a license. The board discussed the law and fairness before adopting the resolution and approving the licenses by roll call.

The resolution is perpetual and set to remain in effect until changed by subsequent board action.