Senator steps up to secure permits for new saloon

Politicians are often blamed when things don’t go well, but Sen. John Jasinski, R-Faribault, is collecting nothing but accolades from the Steele County Free Fair Board of Directors.

Less than a month ago, things were looking bleak for the progress of the Steele Saloon, a new, 120-by-40-foot permanent structure that will replace the large tent that has housed the Saloon since 2019.

Though the original idea of serving hard liquor at the family-friendly event drew criticism, the overwhelming success and popularity of the spot changed the minds of most of its detractors.

It was so popular, in fact, that donors came forward to cover the costs of building the structure on a concrete pad in time for the 2024 SCFF, set for Aug. 13-18.

Still, there was a delay – at the state level – and the local fair hasn’t been the only casualty.

Projects like the Blooming Prairie High School and a new restaurant in Dodge Center were also held up significantly by delays at Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, which issues permits.

In Owatonna, it was the Saloon’s plumbing permit.

Fair Director Doug Meier had good news at a recent SCFF Board meeting.

“The building is pretty much up,” he said. “They’ve got a few things to finish up on it; they’re waiting for the plumbers to get out of the area.”

Thanks to Fair Manager Scott Kozelka “and some state officials that helped push that plumbing permit through faster than it was anticipated, we were able to get the underground plumbing in, which in turn means hopefully we’ll have a cement floor by the fair – that’s the goal,” Meier said.

The building will not be 100% complete by then, he said, “but it’ll have a cement floor, a covered roof and we’ll be able to shut the doors at night, that’s really what we’re hoping for.”

The “state official” he referenced was Jasinski, who said the Department of Labor “needed a little push. There is a sense of urgency on certain issues, because they hold up other things.”

He has a good relationship with them, he said, “and it was time to make a call and ask for a favor, because Scott said they really wanted (the Saloon) to be operational by fair time.”

Jasinski credited his ability to move the permit along to his ability to work across the aisle at the Minnesota Legislature.

“The longer you’re in the legislature, and you’re respected, the different departments treat you very well,” Jasinski said. “When you need something, and have a reputation for cooperation, the administration gets things done.”

The state labor department is “so far behind,” he said, “but it wasn’t that big of a permit to pull” and move ahead.

“It shouldn’t take a call from a senator to get it moving,” Jasinski said. “It’s not acceptable for the Department of Labor to be that far behind, to the point where they’re holding up projects and impeding things from moving forward.”

Kozelka said the permitting process was at least two months behind when they asked the state about the local delay.

“So I said, ‘John, is there anything you can do?’ And he had somebody call me the very next day, and a couple of days later” the permit was in-hand.

There’s still plenty of work to do, Meier said, “but we’ll get it figured out.”

A soft opening of the new building will be held from 2-5:45 p.m. Aug. 13. The ribbon-cutting will follow at 6 p.m., featuring the investors and city officials.