The Milton City Council revised its retail alcohol license ordinance Tuesday, prohibiting the city from exceeding its license quota—for now. But the council soon could change the ordinance again as it continues working through litigation with Casey’s General Store, City Administrator Al Hulick said. The city’s previous ordinance set a quota for alcohol licenses based on population. The council also had the discretion to exceed the quota if it wanted to, Hulick said. Tuesday’s revisions eliminate the council’s ability to disregard the quota, which is four. Beverage Mart, Kwik Trip, Milton Travel Mart and Piggly Wiggly currently hold the city’s four retail alcohol licenses, he said. The council’s quota discretion is at the heart of its litigation with Casey’s General Store. Casey’s sued the city in May 2016 after its application for a retail alcohol license was denied earlier that year. In the lawsuit, Casey’s accused Milton of playing favorites when it awarded an alcohol license to Kwik Trip. The city was not supposed to exceed the quota for businesses that sold gas, as previously reported by The Gazette.
