Liquor license in hands of tribal commission

By Richard Winter, Journal correspondent | Thursday, March 29, 2007

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The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Liquor Commission listened to nearly four hours of public testimony Thursday regarding a proposed on-sale and off-sale liquor license for a new business in Mission at the former Prairie Hills Square.

At issue is the liquor license for “The Club,” which is about two miles south of Mission. In addition to being a night club, the property has one of only two golf courses in Todd County. New owner Troy Heinert said making the entire business profitable without selling alcohol would be impossible in the upkeep of the local golf course.

“Maintaining a golf course is expensive. That’s why golf courses sell beer,” Heinert said.

The former Prairie Hills has been closed since September after the previous owners were forced out of business because of tax issues and other financial shortcomings. With the closing of the establishment in the fall, the Rosebud reservation has had only one site — Rosebud Casino and Fuel Plaza, owned by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe — that has sold liquor or beer.

During the four-hour open forum, the public was given a chance to voice opinions. Although neither side could declare a distinct advantage in the numbers for or against issuing the liquor license, many left poignant testimonies about their feelings.

“Since they closed Prairie Hills down, it has been so quiet,” community resident Raymond Wright, who lives near the proposed establishment, said. “We don’t have to worry about some drunk running us down or throwing beer bottles at my kids when they are riding horses.”

Tillie Black Bear, executive director of White Buffalo Calf Woman’s Society, which works with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, said that of all of the domestic-violence cases she sees, 95 percent come as the result of alcohol. Black Bear vehemently opposed the proposed liquor license.

“Alcohol is not the answer to our problems on the Rosebud reservation. It only compounds them,” Black Bear said. “We need to take a stand as tribal people, and alcohol is not the answer.”

Rosebud tribal revenue coordinator Whitney Meek voiced her opinion in favor of the new liquor license, lauding the efforts of new owners Troy and Gina Heinert for meeting additional licensing requests of the tribe and assuming a large debt from the previous owners.

Meek said the new business would be required to pay to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe a 10 percent luxury tax on all alcohol sales and a 4 percent sales tax on alcohol, greens fees and memberships sold at the club.

“In a good year, that could mean as much as $200,000,” Meek said. “Ultimately, I don’t think prohibition works. The only way to regulate the consumption of liquor is through licensing.”

Owners Troy and Gina Heinert hope to open a restaurant and lounge while maintaining the golf course. Their long-range plans include building a new banquet room and, eventually, the construction of a new building that will house a tanning and exercise salon along with three rental spaces for other businesses.

Troy Heinert said the decision to buy the property and start a business was not simply about profit.

“I didn’t want to see another business be closed or owned by a person that doesn’t live here,” Heinert said. “We look forward to doing something positive for our community.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, liquor-commission chairman John Charles Arcoren said the decision about the license could come as early as next Wednesday’s regularly scheduled liquor-commission meeting.