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Council OKs liquor license
Thelma Grimes / San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The Benson City Council's June 23 decision to oppose transfer of a liquor license at the Arena Bar was reversed at Monday night's meeting, which featured the bar's patrons speaking out against the decision
Members of the Southern Arizona Harley Riders Association spoke about how the bar has raised money for a variety of charities over the years, and business owners and others questioned the council's 4-3 vote to oppose the liquor license transfer to new owner Walter Wood.
The council originally denied the measure after Councilwoman Lori McGoffin expressed concerns over the felony record of the new owners.
David DiPeso, a local business owner and Chamber of Commerce member, said the council overreacted.
"The city should look at zoning and regulations and let the state liquor department take care of any problems they see with this," he said. "The Arena Bar has been there 40 years."
George Scott of the Southeastern Arizona Economic Development Group told the council it is important to retain and allow existing businesses to expand, noting that without the liquor license, the Arena Bar could not continue to do business.
Scott and DiPeso are former Benson mayors.
Speaking on behalf of Wood, Dennis Breen said the felony charges McGoffin took issue with June 23 had been dropped, and therefore should not be an issue for the council in their vote to recommend the state liquor board approve the transfer.
Breen further stated that the incident brought forth by McGoffin happened 15 years ago, and the state looks at past records up to five years.
Breen said the bar stands to face injury as the interim application expires Aug. 23, and if they do not have state approval by then, the bar will have to close until the matter is sorted out.
"This could result in the bar having to shut down as the process moves forward," Breen said. "This could result in major financial injury."
After hearing from the public, Vice Mayor Toney King said he has had a change a heart, noting that Wood's past is just that and that the Arena Bar is important to the Benson community.
Councilwoman Kathy Suagee agreed, but noted she still had some concerns along with Councilman John Lodzinski.
Councilwoman Dianne Tipton expressed concerns over people needing alcohol to have a good time.
"There are things that still concern me and I hope ya'll understand that what you are doing is wonderful for the community, but people can have a wonderful time without alcohol."
McGoffin was not swayed in the discussions, stating she has had phone calls from people commending her stance in the June 23 meeting and asking that she stand her ground now.
McGoffin said she has heard that that bar sells liquor to under-age teenagers and has a lot of problems with drinking outside the establishment.
King responded to McGoffin's statement, telling her and the public that the police should have been called if that was the case, instead of using it as a reason in this particular issue.
After discussing the matter, the council did approve recommending transfer of the liquor license in a 5-2 vote. McGoffin and Tipton voted against the measure.
In other business, the council discussed how to pay for a $1 million line of financing the city received through Zions Bank in 2005. The funding was used for the new city swimming pool on Union Street and $500,000 went toward wastewater infrastructure.
City Finance Director Jim Cox said the first $333,000 payment was due on July 1, but he has been renegotiating the terms of the agreement and needed council approval in moving forward.
Through the new agreement, Cox said the city should have the loan paid off by July 1 of 2010.
There was some question over how confusing the wording in the agenda item was and what it meant for the city to approve a resolution declaring the situation an emergency.
While the council did not say why it was an emergency, Cox said the wording on the agenda item was specifically done that way for legal reasons.
In other business, the council held a brief executive session, or a closed-door meeting, before coming back and approving the release of the billing invoices submitted to the city by the Benavidez Law Group, which provides the city's legal representation.
Thomas Benavidez, head of the law group, called for the executive session to discuss the release of his invoices to the San Pedro Valley News-Sun.
The News-Sun requested the invoices through an official public information request on May 6. After weeks of no response, the News-Sun was denied access to the public records, with Benavidez citing attorney/client privilege.
The council unanimously approved the release of the documents Monday night.
The Benson City Council's June 23 decision to oppose transfer of a liquor license at the Arena Bar was reversed at Monday night's meeting, which featured the bar's patrons speaking out against the decision
Members of the Southern Arizona Harley Riders Association spoke about how the bar has raised money for a variety of charities over the years, and business owners and others questioned the council's 4-3 vote to oppose the liquor license transfer to new owner Walter Wood.
The council originally denied the measure after Councilwoman Lori McGoffin expressed concerns over the felony record of the new owners.
David DiPeso, a local business owner and Chamber of Commerce member, said the council overreacted.
"The city should look at zoning and regulations and let the state liquor department take care of any problems they see with this," he said. "The Arena Bar has been there 40 years."
George Scott of the Southeastern Arizona Economic Development Group told the council it is important to retain and allow existing businesses to expand, noting that without the liquor license, the Arena Bar could not continue to do business.
Scott and DiPeso are former Benson mayors.
Speaking on behalf of Wood, Dennis Breen said the felony charges McGoffin took issue with June 23 had been dropped, and therefore should not be an issue for the council in their vote to recommend the state liquor board approve the transfer.
Breen further stated that the incident brought forth by McGoffin happened 15 years ago, and the state looks at past records up to five years.
Breen said the bar stands to face injury as the interim application expires Aug. 23, and if they do not have state approval by then, the bar will have to close until the matter is sorted out.
"This could result in the bar having to shut down as the process moves forward," Breen said. "This could result in major financial injury."
After hearing from the public, Vice Mayor Toney King said he has had a change a heart, noting that Wood's past is just that and that the Arena Bar is important to the Benson community.
Councilwoman Kathy Suagee agreed, but noted she still had some concerns along with Councilman John Lodzinski.
Councilwoman Dianne Tipton expressed concerns over people needing alcohol to have a good time.
"There are things that still concern me and I hope ya'll understand that what you are doing is wonderful for the community, but people can have a wonderful time without alcohol."
McGoffin was not swayed in the discussions, stating she has had phone calls from people commending her stance in the June 23 meeting and asking that she stand her ground now.
McGoffin said she has heard that that bar sells liquor to under-age teenagers and has a lot of problems with drinking outside the establishment.
King responded to McGoffin's statement, telling her and the public that the police should have been called if that was the case, instead of using it as a reason in this particular issue.
After discussing the matter, the council did approve recommending transfer of the liquor license in a 5-2 vote. McGoffin and Tipton voted against the measure.
In other business, the council discussed how to pay for a $1 million line of financing the city received through Zions Bank in 2005. The funding was used for the new city swimming pool on Union Street and $500,000 went toward wastewater infrastructure.
City Finance Director Jim Cox said the first $333,000 payment was due on July 1, but he has been renegotiating the terms of the agreement and needed council approval in moving forward.
Through the new agreement, Cox said the city should have the loan paid off by July 1 of 2010.
There was some question over how confusing the wording in the agenda item was and what it meant for the city to approve a resolution declaring the situation an emergency.
While the council did not say why it was an emergency, Cox said the wording on the agenda item was specifically done that way for legal reasons.
In other business, the council held a brief executive session, or a closed-door meeting, before coming back and approving the release of the billing invoices submitted to the city by the Benavidez Law Group, which provides the city's legal representation.
Thomas Benavidez, head of the law group, called for the executive session to discuss the release of his invoices to the San Pedro Valley News-Sun.
The News-Sun requested the invoices through an official public information request on May 6. After weeks of no response, the News-Sun was denied access to the public records, with Benavidez citing attorney/client privilege.
The council unanimously approved the release of the documents Monday night.
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