We are one of only three cities in the whole state that doesn’t have Sunday sales.”

Ely Mayor Chuck Novak

ELY – Most liquor stores across Minnesota have had the opportunity to be open on Sundays for the past two years— but those in Ely have been an exception. Members of the city council here learned this week that Ely is one of only three cities in the state where Sunday liquor sales remain banned by ordinance.
A state law that had restricted Sunday liquor sales for decades in Minnesota was lifted in 2017, but the Legislature left it to local governments to control liquor sales through ordinance. At the time, the Ely City Council, at the request of three local liquor stores, decided not to change the ordinance, leaving an existing prohibition on Sunday off-sale in place.
Yet times have changed and the new owner of Lakeshore Liquor is wondering why he can’t improve his customer service, and potentially his bottom line, with the opportunity to sell alcoholic beverages seven days a week.
In a letter sent last week to the city of Ely, Eric Saint Martin of Lakeshore Liquor requested an application for a Sunday sales liquor license. Council members addressed the request at their regular meeting Tuesday night.
“I feel it would benefit the town in the fact that you are not giving the visitors to our fine city a reason to stop and shop on their way home,” Saint Martin wrote.
“We have visitors that are unaware of our town’s no-Sunday sales and get here and are unable to shop for their camping trips on a Monday after a Sunday arrival,” he added.
Saint Martin argued that being open on Sundays “opens up one more shift for me to offer to an employee who may need that little extra to stay around and keep Ely that much more sustainable.”
Two years ago, local liquor store owners said they wanted to continue to have Sundays off. The state law does not require liquor stores to be open on Sundays, but it does give them the opportunity.
“As little or as much as it may add to the town to keep Ely sustainable, we all need to take advantage of any rules we can, and the state offering Sunday sales with us not taking advantage of it is just says, ‘No thanks, Ely doesn’t need that extra added boost of money coming in,’” Saint Martin added.
Council member Jerome Debeltz indicated that he had no problem offering Sunday liquor sales in the city. “We tried this once before, but the store owners were against it,” he said.
Council member Al Forsman requested more time to consider the issue and gather more input. “This was added to the agenda tonight and I am not ready to make any motion for or against this,” he said.
Any ordinance change in the city of Ely requires two readings at consecutive council meetings as well as a public hearing before the council could vote on the issue.
Council member Heidi Omerza said Saint Martin had many good points. “We are basically forcing (visitors) to drive right through town. Will they come back? I’m not certain,” she said. “Any opportunity we can give a tourist or an individual to shop here, we need to provide that. We do not want to force business away, ever.”
The nearby cities of Winton, Babbitt, and Tower all offer Sunday liquor sales.
“Leave it up to the store owners, but we need to provide the opportunity for business here to thrive and survive,” Omerza added.
Mayor Chuck Novak indicated that a fourth off-sale liquor establishment may be opening in town, “and more than likely, if that is true, they may request Sunday sales as well,” he said.
He said he was in favor of discussing the ordinance change in a public hearing. “I think this is a good idea. We are one of only three cities in the whole state that doesn’t have Sunday sales,” he said.
Council member Paul Kess said, “We are a tourist economy, and I would like to listen to the arguments on both sides.”
The council approved a motion, 5-1, to direct the city attorney to develop a city ordinance allowing Sunday liquor sales in Ely, as provided by state law. Forsman voted against the motion. One council member was absent.

Other business
In other business, the council:
Approved water and wastewater operators to attend a certification refresher and exam program in St. Cloud on Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
Approved the 2020 prioritization of reconstruction of James Street between Third Avenue and Seventh Avenue.
Renewed the city attorney contract with Klun Law Firm for 2020 and 2021 at the same $60,000 flat fee retainer for standard tasks, and a fee structure of $120 per hour attorney rate and $85 per hour legal assistant rate for nonstandard tasks.
Approved $10,000 residential rehab loans for Derek Jensen, 11 E. James St., and Russell and Nadine Long, 245 E. White St.
Appointed Christopher Steele to the library board.