HomeNewsLakeville Baldy’s BBQ waits for answer from Lakeville on liquor license
Baldy’s BBQ waits for answer from Lakeville on liquor license
Monday, 19 October 2009
by Nicole Harris
thisweek newspapers
A new barbecue restaurant opened Oct. 11 in Lakeville without any alcohol – at least for now.
The Lakeville City Council tabled a decision on a liquor license for
Baldy’s BBQ on Oct. 5 after Lakeville Police Sgt. John Kornmann
recommended denying the license because of the undisclosed criminal
history on co-owner Sony Man’s application.
The final decision will be made at the Oct. 19 City Council meeting.
The new barbecue restaurant opened in the Marketville Shopping Center at 210th St. W.
Brian Wheeler, also known as “Baldy,” said he and his business partner,
Man, both had criminal convictions as young adults, but had not been in
trouble with the law since then.
Man, who was not present at the council meeting, indicated on his liquor license application that he had no criminal history.
Sgt. Kornmann said Man had a conviction for possession of cocaine in 1998.
He was 17 years old at the time, but was considered an adult, Kornmann said.
Wheeler told the council that Man was confused over what box to check
on the application and said Man had recently received a letter stating
the conviction was no longer on his record because 10 years had past.
Wheeler spoke openly with the council about his previous criminal history.
“I got in trouble when I was in college,” he said. “It changed my life forever.”
Since then Wheeler has owned a mortgage company, been a youth leader
for five years at Celebration church, and has been assisting the
football team at Lakeville South High School for two years.
“He’s dependable, he works well with our players and I totally trust
him to make the right choices,” said Larry Thompson, head coach of the
Lakeville South football team.
Although Sgt. Kornmann said Wheeler was “very forthright” about his
past, he could not confirm Wheeler’s charges because the state of
Missouri would not release his record for a liquor license background
check.
“I’ve promised myself, my family and anybody around me that I’m going to do right by everybody,” Wheeler said.
Man was away on business. His wife was at the council meeting to speak for him in his place.
“Had he realized how important it was for him to be here, maybe some things would have been different,” she said.
The council tabled the decision to get additional information and to allow Man to represent himself.
“It will provide a better picture of the full story,” Mayor Holly Dahl said.
Baldy’s BBQ applied for a wine and on-sale 3.2 percent malt liquor license.
Nicole Harris is a University of Minnesota journalism student intern.
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