Revocation hearings slated March 14-16
Pub Date: 2/1/2006
Jason Woods, a liquor licensing specialist at the Montana Department of Revenue, said the two owners of Cascade County all-beverage licenses who have recently had the validity of their licenses called into question, have retained counsel and will have a hearing before the department hearings examiner, Howard Hefflefinger, March 14, 15 and 16.
County liquor licenses issued to the Gannon Ranch Golf Course and the Lucky Last Jump Casino in 2002 may be revoked because they in fact lie within a five-mile radius of the City of Great Falls. The inexpensive county licenses must be located at least five miles from the nearest city limits.
When the revenue department checked the distances recently using Global Positioning Satellite technology, they found the Lucky Last Jump, located at the Ulm interchange on I-15, was 4.86 air miles from the Great Falls city limit, while the golf course location was within 2.4 miles.
Apparently, the problem surfaced when another license holder petitioned to have their county license recognized as a city license as a result of annexation changes. When state officials decided to check other area licenses, they discovered the discrepancies.
The state, the county and the defendant licensees are expected to provide witnesses. Heffelfinger said the case could be decided in 30 to 60 days after the hearings record closes, which should occur within 10 weeks of the hearings. The proceedings will take place in a conference room at the Sam Mitchell Building in Helena.
Heffelfinger will issue a ruling, but the department director, Dan Bucks, has authority to accept or overrule the hearings examiner's decision. Ultimately, the department head's decision can be appealed into district court.