Liquor-license veto stands

• City Hall

City Hall

Talk about it

The City Council took no action at its Tuesday meeting to challenge Mayor Dan Toland’s veto of a liquor-license approval it granted by appeal with a 4-2 vote at the Aug. 26 meeting. Toland sent written notice of the veto two days later.

No one offered discussion when the mayor read the agenda item, which said: “Communication of mayoral veto regarding operator’s license for Jennifer Campbell -- discussion and possibility of Common Council override of veto.”

The council initially denied the 20-year-old woman a license because her record did not meet the guidelines. It showed three citations involving marijuana within months of each other.

Campbell appealed the denial to the City Council at its Aug. 26 meeting, explaining that she’d turned her life around and needed the license to keep her retail-clerk job at a local BP station.

Discussion at the last meeting included some members insisting the guidelines be followed and saying a reversal might insult license holders who are, and have been, in good standing.

Others sympathized with Campbell, saying she deserved a second chance and that if anything happened, they could revoke the license.

The council also listened as Council Member Randy Kusilek thanked all who contributed to a party for the National Guard at Glen Park Saturday, and as Police Sgt. Janice Bock gave an overview of police training.

City Administrator Scot Simpson briefed the council on River Falls’ proposed budget for 2013.

Simpson said the draft will be made available on the city’s website and at City Hall and the public library.

The City Council will discuss the budget in workshops during upcoming months and hold a public hearing about it at the Nov. 13 meeting.

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