Legal opinion sought

The demise of a notorious south Edmonton bar could have implications for Jasper businesses if they are identified as the source of late night disturbances.

Vern Balding, corporate and legislative services director for Jasper, said that he has asked the town’s solicitors for a legal opinion on the issues surrounding Edmonton’s decision to cancel the business licence of the Windmill Bar and Grill.

“We understand from talks with the city of Edmonton that the decision to revoke the licence was based on breaches of provincial liquor laws,” Balding said.

The city suspended the pub’s business licence in May. Police said they were called to the pub 67 times in one year, including incidents with weapons, drug-dealing inside the bar and mini-riots in the bar’s parking lot.

Balding said lawyers have also been asked for an opinion on the  Business Licensing Bylaw, which states that the chief licensing inspector can suspend or cancel a licence “based on reasonable grounds that it is in the public interest.”

The Windmill lost an appeal to reinstate its business licence after a quasi-judicial standing committee of council ruled unanimously to keep the suspension in place.

Nearby residents made  repeated demands that the bar be shut down over concerns with crime and public drunkenness, which led to an investigation by the city’s public safety compliance team.