Out of the 30 police incident reports for all liquor-licensed businesses in the city of Isanti the past two years, 23 were associated with the Rum River VFW Post 2735.
A few concerns were brought to light when discussing the renewal of the on-sale and Sunday liquor license for the VFW during the March 2 Isanti City Council meeting.
The police activity report showed information on assaults, disorderly conduct, fights, harassments, domestics, disturbances and DUIs for 2014 and 2015 for the VFW, Wintergreens Golf & Grill, Junction Bowl and Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, City Center/The Green Table and Sanbrook Golf Course.
The report showed the VFW had 10 incidents in 2014 and 13 in 2015.
“There has been an uptick in fights, disorderly conducts and assault charges,” said Isanti Mayor George Wimmer. “We need to not have that situation. We need to make sure whatever is going on at Rum River VFW, that has the vast majority of those issues in the city, we need to make sure that that doesn’t continue to escalate. I just want to put you on ‘kind of warning’ with this. If this comes back next year and we are still on the same path with that, it’s going to be a problem.”
Wimmer told the VFW representatives in attendance to work with the Isanti Police Department and Police Chief Gene Hill to resolve the issues.
“We need to make sure we have a safe operation,” Wimmer said.
Representatives from the VFW said some of the issues have been with people coming up from the Twin Cities and the fights usually happening out in the parking lot. He referenced a recent night where a group of eight came up from the Twin Cities and the bartenders had to remove the group from the establishment while they were being cussed at and sworn at.
“This is the only establishment we have had this issue with,” Wimmer said. “I would work with Chief Hill; he’s a fantastic chief of police. Our police department does a great job. I would work with them so we can try to nip this thing in the bud. None of us want to have this situation going on.”
Wimmer said he wants the VFW to remain a viable business in the city.
“We want to continue the great tradition of the VFW there, so I really suggest you work with Chief Hill and we get this figured out,” Wimmer said.
Following discussion, the City Council approved the liquor license for the VFW. Liquor licenses were also approved for Wintergreens, Junction Bowl and Whistle Stop Bar & Grill and City Center/The Green Table. The licenses are effective April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2017.
Other police incidents reported the past two years included four incidents from Wintergreens and three from Junction Bowl.
Council Member absences
During council committee reports, Wimmer reported Council Member Adam Johnson has been absent for three straight council meetings.
“I, nor staff, have had contact with him for at least two weeks,” Wimmer said. “I know he’s been out of the city. I don’t know if he’s back yet, or planning to come back, or what the situation is there.”
Wimmer said per city policy, three absences in a row leads to a council member forfeiting the position. He noted the state has a guideline of 90 days.
Since there was no agenda item regarding the issue for the March 2 meeting, Wimmer said something will be put together for the next council meeting if the city still hasn’t heard from Johnson.
“Obviously we can’t continue to not have a fifth council member,” Wimmer said. “This isn’t anything we want to be doing; I was hoping I’d hear from him. I had hoped he would have been at the last meeting.”
Wimmer said per city policy, since Johnson’s seat is up for re-election in November, if Johnson doesn’t remain on the council, the council will have to consider filling the seat until a person is elected to the seat in November.
In other action, the council approved:
• A resolution relating to the operation of the compost site. The funding for the cleanup of the site and the reopening of the site in the spring or summer of 2016 was a directive of the council and budgeted in the 2016 sanitation budget. The compost site will be open to the public for residential yard waste, including grass clippings and leaves, when the site is staffed from 1-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays beginning as early as April 17 and closing as late as Nov. 20. The council also approved a resolution approving the hiring of seasonal workers for public works for the spring through fall of 2016 to assist with the compost site, parks maintenance, street painting, mowing, weeding and garbage pickup.
• A resolution authorizing a pet clinic by the Isanti Police Department, with assistance from the Isanti Pet Clinic and Ham Lake Veterinary Hospital, to be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the Isanti Pet Clinic, 120 Heritage Blvd. NE, Suite 4. The clinic will be held on a first-come, first-serve basis. No advance appointments necessary.
• A resolution authorizing the chief of police to apply for the AAA Traffic Safety Grant.
• A resolution approving plans and authorizing the advertisement for bids for wastewater treatment improvements. Bids will be brought to the May 17 City Council meeting.
• A resolution approving plans and authorizing the advertisement for bids for school watermain loop improvements by Isanti Middle School. Bids will be brought to the May 17 council meeting.