Jessica Foster
Staff WriterThere are no smokes for sale at Upperdeck and Playerís Beach Club.
The Forest Lake nightclub, owned by Raymond ìBoî Bogotty is in the midst of a five-day suspension of its tobacco license. The suspension, which began on Wednesday, runs through Sunday.
On June 21, the establishment failed its second tobacco compliance check within a 12-month period. The penalty for that, according to city ordinance, is a $250 fine and a five-day license suspension.
Bogotty and Leon Kachinske the employee who sold a pack of Marlboro cigarettes to an underage teenager were at city council Monday night for the hearing and to ask for lenience.
Bogotty said it was a testament to his business that there were only two violations in the last six years.
ìWeíve very strict about it. Weíve had two in six years. I think that says something good,î he said.
Bogotty said he has a contract with his employees that if they do something that results in a fine they are financially responsible.
For the first violation, the business was charged $100. The fine for the second violation has a $150 increase.
While Bogotty and Kachinske were looking for leniency, Councilman Rick Ashbach said Forest Lake is more lenient than other communities, commenting on hefty fines elsewhere.
Councilman Bruce Carlson said rules relating to tobacco sales should be strictly enforced. ìThis is the thing I have really strict, hard feelingsówhen I start seeing young people walking around toting cigarettes,î he said. ìI think we have to draw a strict line here.î
A third violation in a 12-month period, or sales during the suspension, would result in a revocation.
Upperdeck and Players Beach Club was one of 28 businesses in Forest Lake visited during the compliance check conducted by the Forest lake Police Department.
Lakes Conoco also failed. It was their first failure in the last 12 months. Its last compliance check failure was in May, 2001.
Meetings
Forest Lake City Council regularly meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled Monday, July 26.
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