BROOKINGS A businessmans goal to open a new venture in downtown Brookings was only partially fulfilled at Tuesday nights City Council meeting he got his on-off sale malt license on a 6-0 vote, but was denied a video lottery authorization on a 3-3 vote.
While the outcome was a setback for Kevin Grunewaldts goals at 406 Main Ave., Suite D, he remains undeterred and plans to return to the City Council at some point in time with another video lottery authorization application.
Voting in favor of the video lottery authorization were Mayor Oepke Ope Niemeyer and councilors Wayne Avery and Andrew Rasmussen. Opposing it were councilors Brianna Doran, Bonny Specker and Holly Tilton Byrne. By law, the outcome of a tie vote is the same as if it had failed by a majority vote. Councilor Nick Wendell was absent.
A couple of issues sparked concern among council members regarding the proposed business. These included the density of other establishments in the downtown area with video lottery machines, its proximity to attractions such as the Bunny Trail which Doran said is part of the Downtown Master Plan and encourages young children and families to navigate in the community along with hours of operation and the interior layout.
We did a study session last year on this and that is one of the reasons why we did limit the number of licenses at that time, Specker said in regard to the video lottery angle. Im concerned about the density in that area.
City Clerk Bonnie Foster said that, in the downtown core area, there are 11 other video lottery establishments, which includes Corner Pantry on the northeast corner and Deuces Casino on the northwest corner. The other businesses are Main Street Pub, Rays Corner, Sullys, Bank Saloon/The Vault, Cubbys Sports Bar & Grill, Skinners Pub, The Wild Hare and the VFW.
Grunewaldt responded to those concerns, including that the proposed businesss hours might be negotiable. He also noted that he has taken part in past efforts to make the downtown area more attractive, including working with the city to put poetry on his properties.
It is important that we do have the beauty in our downtown district for our families and kids, he said. It was not my intention to propose something that would be derogatory towards that area.
Grunewaldt continued, I value your concerns; I dont want to be a poor image on the downtown district. I try to remodel a lot of different places. I try to be thoughtful of different peoples interests. I take these big buildings and I divide them up into what I think is needed.
In other business at Tuesday nights meeting:
- Approved, on a 6-0 vote, a resolution to authorize the lease of 50 Club Car Tempo golf carts through NB Golf Inc. of Hendricks, Minnesota. The five-year deal is valued at $376,802 and the carts will be available with the upcoming golfing season.
- Had a first reading on the proposed rezoning of 1115 W. 20th St. S. from agricultural to residential. If all goes to plan, this 30-acre parcel will, in time, become a new housing development with 58 residential lots, including a mix of single-family homes and twin homes.
- Niemeyer read a proclamation regarding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rally and Marade Day on Jan. 20 at Club 71 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium on the campus of South Dakota State University. The event begins at 10 a.m., and the community is invited to attend.
- Gave the OK, on a 6-0 vote, to lease land at Brookings Regional Airport to the Civil Air Patrol.
- As part of its consent agenda, and on a 6-0 vote, designated the Brookings Register as the citys official newspaper for 2025.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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