Monroe council approves multiple alcohol licenses and summer special‑event permits

The City of Monroe Common Council on May 5 unanimously approved a series of alcohol-license transfers and issuances and granted five special-event permits for summer gatherings.

Council members voted to grant ARC of Green County a temporary Class B wine and fermented malt beverage license for the Monroe Blooms and Blues/balloon festival at the Green County Fairgrounds in June 2025, approved WB Green LLC for a Class B beer and Class C (wine-only) license for May 5–June 30, 2025, and authorized the transfer and reissuance of licenses involving Northside Pub and El Mazatlan and the transfer to Devin's Friendly Inn Bar and Grill. The council also approved five special-event permits recommended by the Public Safety Committee: Holly’s Heart and Soul Family Fun Run (July 26, 2025), the Arc of Green County balloon rally (June 2025), the American Legion Memorial Day program (May 26, 2025), Main Street Monroe summer kickoff (May 31, 2025) and Main Street’s Cars on the Square show (June 6, 2025).

Why it matters: These actions enable vendors and community groups to operate alcohol service and host public events during the summer season; they also formalize license transfers and clarify how licenses return to the city if a business fails.

Council procedure and clarifications Presenter (committee member) read each resolution aloud before votes. During the El Mazatlan/Northside discussion, a council member put on the record that a relinquished license returns to the city and that a previous owner does not automatically regain first priority; staff repeated that the license would revert to the city and an applicant would need to reapply. Presenter introduced each motion and the clerk conducted roll-call votes; all measures passed without recorded opposition.

What council approved (high-level) • ARC of Green County: temporary Class B wine and fermented malt beverage license for Monroe Blooms and Blues at Green County Fairgrounds (June 2025) — approved unanimously. • WB Green LLC (World Buffets): original Class B beer and Class C (wine-only) license effective 05/05/2025–06/30/2025 — approved unanimously after staff clarified that the application contains distinct licenses for beer and wine/liquor. • Northside Pub / El Mazatlan: action to relinquish and then reissue or transfer license as requested; staff clarified the city’s process for relinquished licenses — council approved the related resolutions unanimously. • Devin’s Friendly Inn Bar & Grill: resolution approving transfer/issuance of Class B beer and Class B liquor license — approved unanimously. • Special-event permits: five community events and fundraisers with dates and locations as offered by the Public Safety Committee — all approved.

Selected quote Presenter (reading a resolution): “Be it resolved that the Common Council of the City of Monroe upon recommendation of the license committee that a temporary class B wine and fermented malt beverage license for picnics and gatherings be hereby granted to ARC of Green County to serve wine and fermented malt beverages during the Mineral Balloon Festival to be held on June 2025 at the Green County Fairgrounds.”

Next steps and context Approved licenses are effective for the dates listed in each resolution (many through June 30, 2025). Council members and staff noted that if a license-holding business fails, the license reverts to the city and must be reapplied for rather than automatically returning to the prior owner. No appeals or continuations were announced at the meeting.

Ending: The council moved on to other agenda items after the approvals.