Tempers flared at the Alcohol License Review Committee meeting Wednesday as representatives from the Ho-Chunk Nation's DeJope Bingo Hall applied for a license to sell liquor.
DeJope, located on Madison's Southeast side, is a two-part facility split between a bingo gaming area and a restaurant. The representatives sought a license that would allow them to serve liquor in the restaurant seven days a week and in the gaming area on Tuesday nights, when the hall features live entertainment. The license application process, however, proved inconclusive when the ALRC decided to hold off on any grant after a heated debate between committee members, Madison residents and Ho-Chunk nation representatives.
The controversy hinged around several issues, namely the effect on local businesses, drunk driving, Ho-Chunk sovereignty and the Madison smoking ordinance going into effect this July.
One ALRC member, representing the Tavern League, voiced particular concerns regarding the competitive element of a facility as large as DeJope. He stated that the League was completely opposed to any liquor license granted to the bingo hall on the grounds that it would draw too much business away from the tavern establishments already in the area.
Those from the Ho-Chunk Nation, however, defended their position as a diverse facility offering more than just cheaply priced alcoholic beverages.
\Serving alcohol... is not our primary goal,"" said one DeJope representative who chose not to disclose her name. ""We want to be a good neighbor ... Our intention is not to undercut.""
""On one side of [DeJope] is the city dump, on the other side... is the interstate. We are very isolated. Our competition is not nearby, nor did they show up here tonight,"" Ho-Chunk attorney Ken Artis said.
DeJope Bingo Hall's potential contribution to drunk driving elicited the greatest response from both the committee and the meeting attendees. The latter voiced vehement concerns on the possible repercussions should DeJope's liquor license be granted.
""If there's alcohol being served there, there is the potential for people to become very drunk and drive home,"" said meeting attendee Mark Zimmer. ""It's a problem especially because there's no public transportation to [DeJope].""
Mothers Against Drunk Driving also sent a delegate to vocalize qualms. ""A venue your size is likely to contribute to the fatality rate on our roads,"" the representative said.
The ruling on DeJope Bingo Hall's liquor license is set for a joint meeting of ALRC members, police officers, the Madison city attorney and DeJope representatives for next month to settle the controversial application.
