Mink River Basin Keeps Liquor License

The liquor license of the Mink River Basin was renewed in a unanimous vote by the Liberty Grove Town Board at a special meeting June 26.

The meeting was held in response to a complaint filed by Dave Brandt, whose 19 year-old daughter Amanda was killed in a one-car accident after leaving the Basin Sept. 25, 2006. The driver of the vehicle, Karen Teskie, 20, was also killed. Both girls had high levels of alcohol in their systems.

Brandt repeatedly said his intention in filing the complaint was not to shut down the Mink River Basin, though that could have been the result of the hearing.

“I have no campaign to put the Mink River Basin out of business,” he said. But Brandt said he was concerned the town and community were not taking the issues of underage and excessive drinking seriously.

“I’m not the only one here who has asked, ‘why was more not done?’” Brandt said in reference to the circumstances leading to his daughter’s death.

Tim Penchoff, the bartender at the Basin the night of the accident, received two citations for serving the girls. Penchoff did not have a license to bartend in Liberty Grove. Basin owner Linden Ray said he thought since Penchoff was licensed in Sister Bay he was covered elsewhere in Door County.

At the hearing Brandt and Mink River Basin attorney Randy Nesbitt called several witnesses to help make their case. Brandt attempted to establish that the Basin had a practice of serving alcohol in an irresponsible manner.

Conversely, Nesbitt tried to demonstrate the Basin and its owners had made a single mistake and were valuable members of the business community.

Ray said he has made a “serious effort to prevent serving underagers” since the accident and did so prior to it, adding that Penchoff is no longer employed by the Basin.

“I know the family is hurt and angry,” Ray told the board. “But we are not to blame.”

Brandt said he knows he can’t bring his daughter back, but is trying to initiate a larger change in attitudes toward drinking.

“In Door County and Wisconsin underage drinking is a serious problem,” he said. “If the Mink River Basin were closed it would still be a large problem. My goal in doing this is for the board to help ensure it’s taken seriously.”

After his license was renewed, Ray said he agreed with much of what Brandt had to say.

“He had a lot of good points,” he said. “I can understand he wants some things to change. But this might not be the way to do it.”

Ray suggested he go to the root of the laws in Madison.

“Some laws are a little lax,” he said. “It’s amazing bars don’t get in more trouble.”