By Jared Huizenga, Sun Sailor
With its director of liquor operations of nearly two decades leaving at the end of the month, the Wayzata City Council has approved a plan to keep things running as close to normal as possible.
During its July 16 meeting, the council unanimously approved the interim plan to replace Gina Holman, who will end her career with the city on July 31, after more than 19 years.
Holman submitted her resignation at the beginning of the month. On Aug. 1 she will begin her new career at Lake Country Distilling, a micro distiller in Waconia.
"This is a significant transition for our business operation down the hill," City Manager Heidi Nelson said.
Nelson worked with Holman and other city staff members to devise the plan, which aims to keep the business moving forward for the next few months until the actual staffing needs of the lucrative city operation can be determined.
The council approved the following plan:
* Chad Bartley has been appointed interim general manager for Wayzata Bar & Grill. He will handle day-to-day operations and management of the bar and grill, monitor and respond to the financial performance of the business and ensure the hospitality of the Muni is "maintained and fostered by staff and the service of food and beverage. He will receive an interim salary adjustment from $25.74 per hour to $29.80 per hour.
* Steve Maeger has been appointed interim general manager for Wayzata Wine & Spirits, where he will handle day-to-day operations and management of the liquor store operation, monitor and respond to the financial performance of the business and ensure "the hospitality and customer service focus is maintained and fostered in the sale of product and customer engagement via marketing, tasting events and product offerings. He will also receive an interim salary adjustment from $25.52 per hour to $29.80 per hour.
* The allocation of up to $7,500 to work with Linnehan Foy to update the Muni website with new graphics and broader business themes and to provide and an interim salary adjustment for Communications Samantha Grosz who will assume a greater level of involvement in the marketing efforts of the Muni.
Nelson said she expects this interim plan to be in place for about three months, at which time it will be easier to determine what the needs are for the operation.
Holman called the move "bittersweet" and expressed her confidence in the staff at both the liquor store and bar and grill to keep moving things forward.
If her departure leaves any holes in the operation, she said it comes in terms of having a wine sommelier on staff. From early on wine was her area of interest and expertise and, she said, it's become a very important part of the business.
Maeger, she said, is excellent with the spirits side of the business and tracking down hard-to-find spirits for customers. So combining his skills with someone well-versed in wine would be ideal.
"Well, we're going to miss you," Mayor Ken Willcox told Holman. "This is going to be a big hole for Wayzata."
"Nineteen years is a long time," he said. "And during that period you've really created an ambiance in Wayzata. You've enhanced the small-town feel and ambiance and familiarity ... you've created our Cheers, the Cheers of Wayzata."
