Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
State government doesn't always let local government know what it's doing as quickly as some would like.
With no official word from the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission on the renewal of Stimmelators Gentleman's Club's beer, wine and liquor retailer permit as of the 1 p.m. local board meeting Thursday, Indiana excise officer and Kosciusko Alcoholic Beverage Commission member Patty Fleck postponed the transfer of stock of the permit to the Feb. 2 meeting.
Sam Stimmel wants to transfer the stock to his daughter, Tracy Stimmel.
Fleck told attorney Steve Snyder, representing Stimmel, she couldn't hear the permit because she hadn't received the renewal yet. After the meeting, she said, "I don't have the renewal of the actual permit and I have to have the renewal of the permit before I can hear the transfer."
According to a copy of the transcribed minutes from the state commission's meeting Tuesday, provided by the Indiana ABC Thursday to the Times-Union, Stimmelator's permit renewal was approved "on the condition of the transfer (of the permit) and that he (Sam Stimmel) have no activity or no involvement in the permit, unless he would be cleared from what is going on in Texas right now with the law."
Fleck had not received that information by Thursday's meeting.
Stimmelators is at 114 E. Washington St., North Webster.
At the November Kosciusko ABC meeting, a tie vote of 2-2 was reached by the board on the renewal of Stimmelators Gentleman's Club's permit. The permit renewal was then forwarded to the state.
The fate of Stimmel's Indiana permit came into question in October after Indiana Excise Officer Sgt. Greg Wiese questioned Stimmel about an alcohol license permit he applied for in Victoria County, Texas, in September 2003. To apply for an alcohol permit in Texas, an applicant must be a resident of the state for at least one year prior to applying for the license. Stimmel, on his application, provided a Texas address. Stimmel admitted at the October meeting that he gave false information to Texas and is a Hoosier.
Tracy Stimmel has been learning the business for the past two to three years to buy the club from Sam. It was decided the best way to purchase the club was through a stock purchase. On Nov. 3, Tracy applied for a transfer of stock of the business subject to the renewal of Stimmelators' license.
Stimmelators has had only three violations in the past 17 years.
In other business, new permits were approved for two Warsaw businesses.
For Pizza King, West Lake Street, Warsaw, the ABC approved a new beer retailer permit, a new beer, wine and liquor retailer permit and a new Sunday sales retailer permit.
Wal-Mart, Walton Boulevard, Warsaw, also was approved for a beer, wine and liquor dealer permit. The store already had a permit for beer and wine.
"They come within all the guidelines of the law. We've never had any problems with any of the Wal-Marts," said Fleck.
The ABC also approved the following permit renewals, which had no violations against them:
• Gropp's Fish of Stroh, Ind. 13, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Down Under, North Huntington Street, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Fraternal Order of Eagles 3760, North Kern Road, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor retailer permit.
• Applebee's, East Center Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
Members of the ABC are president Gordon Vanator, secretary Kenneth Johnson, Elim Smith and excise officer Patty Fleck. They meet at 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the Kosciusko County courthouse, Warsaw.
