Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division Seeks City Input on Strategic Plan

Minnesota’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division may be forced to reduce city training opportunities in outstate Minnesota.
(Published Aug 8, 2012)

The Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has initiated a process of “strategic redirection” in order to better meet the needs of its stakeholders, including cities.

Like many units of government, AGED is facing an increase in the demand for services and a decrease in staff. AGED hosted a stakeholder meeting in July where it requested input from the League of Minnesota Cities and other stakeholders on how it can restructure the division.

Currently, AGED has fewer than three liquor investigators who cover the entire state—approximately one investigator for 4,800 licenses. In addition to enforcing violations, investigators assist local governments to interpret and administer liquor laws. AGED investigators respond to specific questions from cities, and hold quarterly training seminars for city clerks and county auditors.

These seminars are held throughout the state, although one proposal to cut costs is to hold the meetings in St. Paul. This would make it far more expensive for city employees in outstate Minnesota to attend the seminars, and would likely reduce attendance.

Has your city participated in an AGED training seminar?
League staff is gathering information about how cities currently interact with liquor investigators. Having answers to the following questions will maximize the League’s ability to constructively participate in AGED’s strategic planning process:

  • Has your city attended AGED training seminars?
  • Were the seminars useful to your employees?
  • Has your city contacted AGED investigators for assistance in the past? Was the response useful?
  • What changes would you like to see in how AGED works with cities?

Gathering this type of information helps the League work with state agencies to ensure that cities get the support they need to administer state laws and regulations. Please take a minute to share your experiences by contacting Patrick Hynes (see right). Your time and effort is greatly appreciated.

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