The main public hearings at Wednesday’s Lake Charles City Council meeting focused on the seven businesses stripped of their liquor licenses in July by the Alcohol Review Board. Several weeks ago, the council was tasked with reviewing the board’s decision, which came on the heels of a string of synthetic urine busts by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The businesses involved were More Four Less No. 2, at 1310 N. Martin Luther King Highway; Food Post at 425 N. Martin Luther King Highway; Tobacco Place at 2027 N. Martin Luther King Highway; Super Food Mart at 1539 N. Martin Luther King Highway; Smokers Paradise and Spirits No. 1 at 1014 Martin Luther King Highway; Smokers Express at 3501 Gerstner Memorial Drive; and Raceway No. 6946 at 1213 N. Martin Luther King Highway.

City attorney Billy Loftin broke down the details in the proposed solution recommended by the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office and the legal representation for the seven businesses. The solution included the appellants pleading guilty to their misdemeanor charges, paying court costs and reimbursing the Sheriff’s Office over $4,000 each for the cost of the investigation. Loftin also said the businesses will now seek approval from the DA’s Office or local authorities regarding any suspicious products before selling them in the future.

“We got a promise that we’re not going to have this ‘I don’t know’ defense anymore,” Loftin said. “We’re not going to accept it anymore.”

Ron Richard, who has provided legal representation for the seven businesses, said the goal for his clients has been to be as cooperative with the city as possible. He mentioned how the sale of the items only represented a fraction of the sales for the month for some of the businesses.

“This is just not worth doing. They don’t want to buy trouble for $50 a month,” Richard said. “They’re sorry. They don’t want anything more to do with this.”

Richard told the council that his clients have even been giving the city the names of the distributors that provided the products. Six of the seven businesses are in councilwoman Mary Morris’ district. She said she wants there to be less leniency the next time a similar situation arises.

“I want them to understand that if this happens again, we’re not talking a 30-day suspension. We’re taking the license,” she said.

Mayor Randy Roach told the council he was proud of the work that was done by the review board. He went on to mention how since the investigation, the businesses have been helpful as well.

“Those that have been cited for these violations have acted in good faith, and they have tried to do the right thing in responding to the concerns and the situation,” Roach said. “I think we got their attention.”

The item was ultimately deferred until Oct. 15. Loftin said the arraignment for the businesses would be Sept. 30, giving the businesses about 15 days to comply with the recommendations. The businesses that choose not to comply, he said, would face the original 30-day suspension.(MGNonline)