By Tom Hintgen, The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

On Monday, June 7, at long last, groundbreaking was held for a new city-owned liquor store along North Broadway in Pelican Rapids. The current store is woefully too small and inadequate.

"The new liquor store will have approximately 5,000 square feet of space, five times what we have right now," said Pelican Rapids City Administrator Don Solga. "Bob Leslie, city liquor store manager, and his staff will be able to more easily provide service to customers."

The new liquor store will be located across from Good Samaritan Society (senior living), along North Broadway in Pelican Rapids. The site is on land once used by a service station.

One of the hurdles in recent months was completing work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Contaminants had been found, underground, but they are deemed minor, according to the MPCA.

"We as a city did our work, with a limited site investigation," said Solga. "While working with the MPCA, the state of Minnesota said it would not be necessary to excavate the contaminants. There will be no adverse effects to employees and customers at the new liquor store."

Sundance Companies of Hastings, Minn., will build the new city liquor store. They had the low bid of $394,000.

The decision to move forward with a new city-owned liquor store received city council backing in November 2008. Council members, after talking with their constituents, determined that the project would be a good long-term investment for the community of Pelican Rapids.

Solga said the new location will mean better service and more parking. The new building, he said, also will add to the changes that have already taken place on main street in Pelican Rapids.

"Over the years, liquor store manager Bob Leslie and his employees have done the best they can," Solga said, "but cramped quarters has not been an ideal situation."

Energy-efficient options are being pursued, with help from Otter Tail Power Company.