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Smithville staff to propose ordinance change aligning liquor‑license terms with state
Summary
At a June 3 work session, city staff recommended amending Smithville's liquor‑license language to match state and county terminology — a change staff says alters names only, not license requirements — and pledged to return with comparative fee data.
At a June 3 Smithville Board of Aldermen work session, Police Chief Lockridge told the Board that staff will bring an ordinance amendment to align the city's liquor‑license terminology with state and county terms, a change intended to simplify permitting for event planners and staff. Chief Lockridge said the change would not alter license requirements or functions, only the labels used in the municipal code.
Chief Lockridge explained staff has worked with the state liquor supervisor in Kansas City and a county counterpart, both of whom support using consistent terminology and are willing to attend a future meeting to answer technical questions. He highlighted the caterer's permit as an example: at the state level a caterer's permit is issued on a per‑day basis for up to seven consecutive days; the city's current language covers a seven‑day permit. Staff recommended amending the city's language so the two systems read the same.
Board members questioned how the change would affect fees. Alderman Melissa Wilson asked whether the Temporary Location for Liquor by the Drink / Caterer's permit would remain $37.50 for seven days. Chief Lockridge said staff's recommendation includes updating the schedule of fees to align with state statute, which allows cities to charge up to 1.5 times state fees; he said staff would assemble comparative fee data (including examples from neighboring cities) and return to the Board with a proposed amendment and any recommended fee adjustments.
Alderman Kelly Kobylski asked whether a $10 state fee would translate to a $15 city fee under the 1.5x rule; the question was raised for staff to verify. Chief Lockridge cautioned that fee comparisons were not prepared for this meeting and promised to follow up with the requested details.
Next steps: staff will draft the ordinance language and a revised fee schedule for the Board's consideration at an upcoming meeting and will invite the state liquor supervisor if technical questions arise.
