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Walker council directs sale and closure of municipal liquor store to Miner's Inc.
Summary
The Walker City Council voted 5-0 on July 17 to direct staff to finalize an agreement with Miner's Incorporated to purchase the municipal liquor operation, close the store, sell its inventory and lease the building, subject to required ordinances and agreements.
The Walker City Council on July 17 voted unanimously to direct city staff to finalize an agreement with Miner's Incorporated to purchase the city's municipal liquor operation, close the municipal liquor store, sell its inventory and lease the building once necessary ordinances and agreements are drafted and approved.
Councilmember Gary Wilkening made the motion and Mayor Jerecho Worth seconded. The roll call vote was Ayes: Mary Beth Hansen, Char Moore, Jim Senenfelder, Gary Wilkening and Jerecho Worth; motion passed 5-0. The directive instructs City Administrator Hope Fairchild and City Attorney Dylan Ramstad Skoyles to complete the agreement based on a nonbinding letter of intent from Miner's Incorporated and to proceed with closing and disposition steps when legal requirements are met.
Council minutes record that the council entered a closed session under Minnesota Statutes section 13D.05, subdivision 3(c),(1) and (3), to consider the nonbinding letter of intent from Miner's Incorporated and a separate purchase proposal from Mary Hartje of Northern Liquor; the closed session began at 5:15 p.m. and the meeting reopened at 5:55 p.m.
The council recorded a set of findings of fact supporting the action, saying the sale would "increase the City of Walker tax base," "increase local sales tax revenue to pay for streets, sewer, and water infrastructure," "decrease insurance costs and liability for the City of Walker," "open opportunities for local entrepreneurs and businesses," and could "result in creating a larger number of jobs and generating greater revenue for the City of Walker." The motion states the transaction is contingent on ordinances and agreements being created and approved before closing.
Administrator Fairchild and the city attorney were directed to finalize the written agreements and follow any required ordinance processes. The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
Next steps recorded in the minutes: staff will finalize documents and present required ordinances and agreements to the council for approval prior to any sale or lease taking effect.
