Bock city council to decide on license at Fat Jackís

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 3/13/03

Bock City Council members have a conundrum. Do they reinstate the liquor license at Fat Jackís, a strip club, or not? If they choose not to, 18-20 year-olds will be able to patronize the establishment.

During the week of Feb. 24 the two owners of Fat Jackís, Dave Benzinger and Richard Jacobson, had a falling out. Benzinger, who was given the original liquor license, left Fat Jackís - taking the license with him.

Now, Jacobson is seeking a liquor license for the establishment.

Bock Mayor Margaret Girard said, "The council is up on ends with this."

On Monday, March 10, the council held a special meeting at the Borgholm Town Hall where it listened to concerned residentsí opinions on the license, including a petition which requested the city give Jacobson the license to prevent the younger crowd from being able to patronize the bar.

The council also put a one-year moratorium in place prohibiting any further establishment and operation of sexually oriented and adult entertainment businesses. This will allow the city to conduct a study of the cityís comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance and nudity ordinance.

In the meantime, if the council decides to give Jacobson the liquor license, it must change the ordinance which currently states nudity is not allowed at any establishment with a liquor license.

If the council does decide to change the ordinance, it will have to hold another public hearing in order to do so.

If the council doesnít change the ordinance, it would essentially be breaking its own ordinance.

The council could, however, decide not to give Jacobson the license and Fat Jackís could become a "juice" bar, serving non-alcoholic drinks and continuing as a strip club.

Another special meeting will be held on Monday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at the Bock CIty Hall regarding the liquor license for Fat Jackís. Jacobson has agreed to pay for the special meeting.

"The council is weighing this heavily," Girard said of the license.