The Summit could lose liquor license

IOWA CITY - Another establishment owned by Mike Porter has had its liquor license threatened.

Police Chief Sam Hargadine is recommending the City Council deny Porter's liquor license renewal application for The Summit Restaurant and Bar, 10 S. Clinton St.

The reasons are much the same as Hargadine's recommendation in October to deny a liquor license to Sauce, a liquor store owned by Porter. He said in a memorandum to the council that Porter's financial problems leave him short of the 'good moral character' provision in Iowa Code that is required of the holder of a liquor license.

Porter has outstanding court judgments and debts, including one owed to the city, Hargadine said. Sauce and Porter's Vito's restaurant and bar have filed for bankruptcy. And Porter said under oath that the Summit would close by the end of this past August because he couldn't pay his bills, Hargadine said.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on the matter Tuesday. It has delayed taking action on the Sauce application because of the bankruptcy proceedings. Any decision by the council can be appealed to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.