By Dave Baumeister
County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – Three of the seven businesses in Garretson that sell alcohol failed county compliance checks this year, Minnehaha County Auditor Ben Kyte reported during the Tuesday, Nov. 23, county commission meeting.
Kyte gave the report on 63 establishments licensed by the county that sell alcohol. And while 55 passed, eight of those failed the most recent stings.
In Garretson, Palisades Oil, The Gulch and Dollar General all failed compliance checks.
These checks involved underage customers buying alcohol. South Dakota law sets the age limit to buy alcohol at age 21.
Other county businesses to fail were El Mezcal in Dell Rapids, Monarch Lounge and the Safari Bar in Renner, and The Dug Out and Sunshine Grocery in Hartford.
Businesses that fail compliance checks need to show that steps are in place to keep underage sales from happening again, and owners will have to detail those steps before their liquor licenses are renewed for 2022.
Dispensary apps ready
Kyte also explained the upcoming process for obtaining the one medical marijuana dispensary license available in Minnehaha County.
This license is in addition to ones being made available in the county’s incorporated municipalities.
He said that his office is accepting applications until Monday, Dec. 13.
To apply, non-refundable fees of $5,050 must be submitted for application and publishing.
In addition, a $100,000 licensing fee must also be made at the time of application; however, that fee is refundable and will be returned to applicants not awarded the license.
On Friday, Dec. 17, a random selection will be made among all of the applications received. The auditor’s office will then review the winner to see if that person or business meets criteria established by the county and state.
If not, the license will be awarded to the next applicant selected, if they meet all the criteria.
Because of the background checks, the process may take up to 60 days.
The next meeting of the commission will be Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
Public input is always welcome during these meetings.
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