The owners of Joey’s Bar and Shorty’s Place promised city officials Friday to try to help correct problems occurring outside their bars.

The owners, Joey Franta and Roger Schnurrer, said they would be present at their bars Friday and Saturday nights and their bars would close at midnight.

The officials had suggested the owners’ presence at the bars was important during crucial hours.

The meeting between Franta and Schnurrer and four city officials was organized at the direction of the City Council to try to solve behavior problems outside the bars on which, city officials say, numerous complaints have been received.

Mayor Carl Wyczawski and Council President William Gafford listed some of the problems reported in the vicinity of the bars: men coming out of the bars swearing, urinating, screaming, vomiting in yards, knocking on doors, fighting in yards.

The mayor said one woman wrote him that two of her tenants were leaving because of these problems.

POLICE CHIEF Richard Gulden suggested the owners send troublemakers away. Both owners asked Gulden for names of troublemakers and said they wouldn’t serve them. Gulden said the owners must know who is causing problems. He cited two men, as an example, who pleaded guilty recently in county court to an offense at Third N. and Minnesota.

The officials said the owners must cut off drinks for persons already drunk or who appear drunk. Franta said he has instructed his bartenders not to serve anyone who looks as though he’s had too much.

Gulden suggested the owners prepare a written policy for their employes.

The chief said it is costing the city $120 per weekend for overtime for police to cover these problems. The cost is even higher if any special disturbance requires more officers, he added. His officers get only one weekend off in four, Gulden said.

“YOU’LL HAVE to tell these guys if they continue acting like this, they won’t have any place to go; you’ll be locked up, “Gafford told the owners.

Schnurrer said he is seeking a different location for Shorty’s and he feels this will help.

Shorty’s is located at 313 N. Minnesota;Joey’s is at 301 N. Minnesota.

City Manager Richard Salvati said the problem isn’t only behavior outside the bars, but also that drunks are a menace driving.

THE OFFICIALS told Franta and Schnurrer if the trouble persists, the council may suspend their license for a minimum of 30 days.

“We have bars in town where we haven’t had one call all year,” Gafford said.”They are run so well they don’t need help from the police.

“We’re not on a witch hunt; we’re not out to hurt anybody, but we have to see that laws are observed,” he said.

Renewal of liquor licenses for the two bars will come up at the next council meeting, the mayor said, adding that he expects they will be renewed.

Wyczawski said of Friday’s meeting: “It’s a start. I don’t know if we resolved anything but we’ll certainly be watching it.”.

New Ulm Daily Journal

May 25, 1975