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Preston council sets annual liquor-by-the-drink fee at $300 after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing, the Preston City Council adopted Resolution 171 to add a liquor-by-the-drink fee and a temporary catering permit to the city fee schedule, reducing the annual liquor fee to $300 and setting catering permits at $25 per event.
The Preston City Council on Nov. 25 adopted Resolution 171 to add Liquor By The Drink and a Temporary Catering Permit to the city’s license and fee schedule, setting the annual liquor-by-the-drink fee at $300 and the temporary catering permit at $25 per event. The action followed a public hearing required because the fee is new to city code.
City Attorney Lyle Fuller introduced the drafted resolution and said the $562.50 figure originally proposed represents 75% of the State of Idaho’s fee, the maximum the city may charge under state code. Fuller told council members the city could charge less than that maximum. Councilmember Todd Thomas moved the amended resolution reducing the fee to $300; Councilmember Terry Larson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
During public comment, Rose Bergquist, owner of the Owl Club, said the establishment has sold liquor by the drink since April 2024 and that she has not observed problems. "In those seven months, I haven’t witnessed any issues, trouble, fights, etc. from us serving alcohol by the drink," Bergquist said. Clerk Linda Acock reported a written letter from Robert Kooren that supported imposing fees but questioned the city’s authority to issue liquor licenses; the council proceeded with the fee adoption after brief legal clarification.
The council’s decision adds the licensing fees to the city schedule and permits temporary catering by licensed establishments. The resolution directs staff to update the fee schedule; a copy of Resolution 171 was entered into the meeting record.
