Bar close will stay 1 a.m., for now

PRESCOTT – At the July 12 meeting, the Prescott City Council approved the Kasco Marine renovation and addition plan as recommended by the Plan Commission.

Louie Filkins from Ogden Engineering, who is helping with planning for the Kasco site, spoke briefly about the plans and responded to questions and comments from the board.

Kasco has purchased two buildings from adjoining property owners for expansion. A new pre-cast building addition will provide 10,962 square feet of space; a new pre-engineered metal building addition will provide an additional 8,830 square feet; and a new mezzanine will be added, at 2,995 square feet.

Kasco manufactures decorative and aerating fountains, surface and diffused aeration systems, municipal products, circulators, de-icers and beneficial bacteria. Their products are often used in residential ponds and lakes, water treatment plants, retention ponds, docks, marinas, fish farms and more. They’ve been in business for more than 50 years.

The council also approved the purchase of a new fire tanker truck. The truck will be added to the fire departments vehicles in 2022. Councilman Thomas Oss recommended approval of this purchase.

He said, “I cleared up some of the stuff on the truck and they are indeed putting a pump capable of pushing 5,000 gallons a minute so it actually can be used as a first attack.” The motion was unanimously approved.

The meeting then went into discussion and public comments. Alderperson Bailey Ruona spoke about the recent earlier bar closing times, which the council voted to change to 1 a.m. due to emergency need. This past weekend she was present downtown to make sure bars were following the recent implementation of an earlier bar close time.

She said, “I went out Friday night and scoured the three bars that were under review for having issues…I will say that I had a long conversation with the security supervisor from Two Rivers and they are up to 10 people for security guards and No Name is up to six people.”

The bars have hired more security and are actively intervening when altercations may take place. The increase of security present during bar close has proven to be effective thus far, according to Ruona.

If the security continues to be effective, then the city will consider changing the bar times back to the original 2 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. However, the plan currently is to continue to wait the 30 days and see if the progress maintains. If more altercations take place, then the council may look into making a more permanent decision about earlier closing times.

Ruona also mentioned that some of the surrounding areas such as Red Wing and Hastings are also having issues with the same people who are causing altercations at these bars in downtown Prescott.

Rendering courtesy of City of Prescott