Good start for Farmington's new liquor committee

Talk about it

With one meeting on the books and a new manager expected by the end of the week, things around the Farmington Liquor Stores seem to be moving ahead.

It’s been two months since the Farmington City Council decided to create a liquor operations committee, and almost as long since former liquor store manager Randy Petrofske resigned from his position with the city. But Farmington city administrator David McKnight is optimistic about the next few months in the liquor business.

The liquor operations committee held its first meeting two weeks ago, McKnight said. Made up of himself, council member Julie May and mayor Todd Larson, as well as Farmington residents Mark Pellicci, Mark Shirley, Janie Tutewohl and Jeremy Hjelm, the group will meet monthly in an advisory capacity, with a goal of increasing sales and profitability of the liquor business.

“It was an excellent meeting,” McKnight said.

Designed as an introductory meeting, not all of the topics on the agenda were covered because the residents on the committee had many questions and comments to share.

“This was an education for the resident members who don’t sit and worry about our liquor store every day,” McKnight said. “I was very happy with the tone of the conversations.”

The group will meet again later this month. McKnight hopes that by that time, a new liquor store manager will be in place and he or she will be able to participate in the conversations, as well.

The hiring process for the new liquor store manager could come to an end this week. On Monday, McKnight was preparing to make an offer to the top candidate. He would not release that individual’s name at press time.

Tags: local government, news, farmington, community