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I have heard through the grapevine that several people are not happy with the new Liquor Commissioner or the present City Council, well I can tell you that the problem is the change. No one likes change. It is no longer business as usual, but by the book.

I was appointed as the Liquor Commissioner to do a job, I vowed to do it to the best of my ability, no one is perfect, and yes I am a rookie. Since being appointed to the position I have made a real effort to learn what is expected of the position. Longville had paid $900.00 per year to the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association (MMBA) for the past 10 years and not one person from the MMBA even knew or heard from anyone in Longville until I attended a meeting. In my opinion there should have been some communication between the MMBA and Longville, since the MBA is there to help out anyway they can to improve profits in the town.

I have been bad mouthed about he cancellation of free drinks. Well lets do some math, the on sale is open 319 days a year, if 3 drinks are given out per day, that comes to $11,000 of loss per year that is added to the citizens of Longville's tax burden. The population of Longville was 180 people now it has only 154 people, therefore the tax burden has increased, (because of this) for each citizen of Longville. The Docksider and the Bottle Shop are run by the City to relieve the tax burden on our citizens. I would ask any of you to go the Anchorage or Patrick's and ask for a free drink, they like us, are in business to make money.[[In-content Ad]]

The existing City council has a plan in place to save as much money as possible and still have the City function. We have already paid off an existing bond and last year have a surplus in our account for the city.

I had new tills installed in the Docksider to better check inventory and control sales. We have seen a turn around already and they have only been installed for two months. The tills also cut down on overages and shortages in the cash drawers at the end of each day.

I would also invite anyone with complaints to come to a Council meeting the third Wednesday of every month and discuss it with the Council. We have nothing to hide and would like your input or suggestions, positive or negative.

Again let me say that there are going to be more changes to the on-sale and the Bottle Shop as the MMBA comes up with more ways of change. The world is changing and we, the City of Longville will have to learn to change along with it.

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