Dickinson Liquor License Auction Draws One Bid - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Dickinson Liquor License Auction Draws One Bid

Dickinson officials get a surprise as the city prepares to issue a new liquor license.

City leaders got the idea to auction off the license after seeing the county auction off land.

Bidding began at 1pm mountain today--but only one bid came in.

Coborn's Inc. met the minimum bid of 100-eighty-five thousand dollars.

"Coborn's Inc. is planning to build a grocery store and liquor store under the title of Cashwise in the new development on the west interstate exchange," says City Administrator Shawn Kessel.

Kessel expected several bids to come in and had heard rumors the winning bid could be around 300-thousand dollars.

He says the price may have kept some smaller businesses out of contention, but he thinks there's another reason only one bidder stepped up to the plate today.

"I believe it has more to do with that we could issue a second license. We recognize a population of 18. Most people in town think we are 22 to 23, so that means that we could actually issue a second license so I think my gut tells me that that's why that there could be another license available," says Kessel."

Kessel says he'll now make a recommendation to the city commission. He says that could come in time for their next meeting a week from today.

The city will use the money for the police and fire departments.