CJ reviewing OLCC license applications
From our weekly issue dated June 4, 2008
Due to what it’s calling the frequency of disturbances related to alcohol sales at one downtown establishment, the Cave Junction City Council is noting concerns.
Tuesday night, May 27 during its yearly review of businesses seeking to renew their liquor sales licenses for fiscal 2008-’09, the council directed Mayor Tony Paulson to notify Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) of its concerns.
And the city asked that Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson review complaints generated by establishments which serve alcohol so that it could forward its own recommendations to OLCC.
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The sheriff noted that Art’s Red Garter Steakhouse & Saloon had 18 calls in one year related to assaults or disturbances; Carlos Restaurante, one call of an intoxicated patron arrested for DUII after leaving the premises; and My Brother’s Pub, which had three calls for disturbances or patrons fighting.
Red Garter owner Linda Sallman said Monday, June 2 that she believes that the statistics are misleading in that some had nothing to do with her business. As examples she cited traffic stops that end up on her property, or people having problems outside the establishment that are not related to her business.
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She also wonders about the dates of the listed complaints. It could be, she indicated, that they cover a time frame going back two years.
During the May 27 meeting, asked by council members to comment on the number of calls for service generated from the Red Garter, the sheriff said, “It’s an inordinate number.”
Councilman Don Moore said that if the bar doesn’t take corrective action, the city will have to keep it “on a short leash.”
“When I see 18 calls, I get concerned,” Moore said. “When there are assaults, someone could get killed very easily on that parking lot. The sheriff’s response time isn’t what we want at this time and if it’s going to get worse, we need to be able to handle something like this.”
The council voted 5-0 to authorize the mayor to make disapproval recommendations to OLCC. Further, that he recommend OLCC not grant a renewed license to the Red Garter unless the applicant shows commitment to correct the problems related to reported disturbances and assaults.
Sallman said June 2 that she has worked extremely hard to make the Garter a nice place, and keep out people who cause problems.
“We have good, regular customers at the lounge and restaurant,” she said. “We seem to be caught in the middle of something here, and it seems unwarranted.”
The mayor stated that last year the Garter had been granted a conditional license.
