 The state of Minnesota will allow off-sale liquor stores to be open beginning July 1st. But for the immediate future, it appears the city of Bemidji's municipal liquor stores will remain closed. Josh Peterson was at tonight's work session where city council members looked at the possibilities. We want to be open and for a long on Sunday. With just over one month away from the first Sunday liquor sales, the question to be open or to remain closed was placed before the Bemidji city council. With support on both sides of the issue, the city finance director says he would not recommend Sunday sales for city-owned liquor stores. The overall impact would not add to the bottom line, so we're recommending to council that they not open on Sunday. The city of Bemidji was presented with three options to choose from when it comes to Sunday liquor sales. The first option is to remain closed. The second is to be open for the hours stated in the new law, which is from 11 a.m. until 6 o'clock p.m. And the third option includes being open for a reduced amount of time on Sundays. For some council members, not being open on Sunday could be a big risk. It could be a big deal for us too. We don't know. We just are saying that it will be by Sunday when the ones we're going to buy on Friday, so we won't make it, but this could be a home to market. Kevin Fener, who oversees Bemidji's liquor department, says that while sales may be up a few Sundays, it may not sustain itself. I just don't see that it's, you know, yeah, it's, you're going to see it sales because it's going to be something new. People are going to, you know, just stop and see it, but I think the thing is you're selling the convenience. It's unclear if privately owned liquor stores outside the city limits will be open on Sundays. If they do, the city could lose sales by staying closed, but if they're going to be open, you're not going to make consider. Yeah, then I think at that point you'd have to almost consider at least one. Another city of similar size to Bemidji with municipal stores, Detroit Lakes has decided to authorize Sunday sales with one alderman telling Forum News Service that he expects the uptick in sales revenue from having the liquor store open on Sundays will more than compensate for the expense of keeping it staffed seven days a week. But Bemidji Mayor Rita Albright says she is not convinced that Sunday sales will work. I just don't see it as, you know, if I'm in business and thinking, okay, what's going to increase my bottom line? Will this do it? I haven't been convinced that this will do it. In Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. Four out of the seven city council members were at today's work session. Council members Michael Mealhouse, Roger Hellquist and Nancy Erickson were unable to attend the meeting. Now the city of Bemidji can choose to open city liquor stores on Sunday at any time after July 1st. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.