Three central Kenai Peninsula businesses are delinquent in paying taxes to the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the assembly on Tuesday approved an ordinance protesting a continuance of each establishment’s liquor license.
Kenai’s Alaska Lanes and Little Ski Mo Drive In and the Copper Top Lounge in Soldotna are among five businesses under scrutiny for unpaid taxes. A sixth business was removed from consideration after bringing its tax delinquencies into compliance with borough code prior to Tuesday’s assembly meeting, according to a memo from the borough finance department.
Hooligans Lodging & Saloon Copper Top Lounge owes the most among the five businesses, with more than $41,000 in sales taxes due, according to a memo through borough Finance Director Craig Chapman.
Hooligan’s owner Molly Blakeley-Poland said she is working on a payment plan and declined to comment on any details.
Little Ski-Mo Drive In and Alaska Lanes have both been listed for sale. Mike Lott, owner of Ski-Mo Drive In said the restaurant has been closed since the end of 2013. Lott, who owned the business for about 15 years, said he is looking to make a life change.
“I’m moving on to bigger and better things,” he said.
Ski-Mo Drive In owes more than $2,300 to the borough in delinquent taxes. Mark White, realtor at Ron Moore Realty Co. said they have asked $95,000 for the restaurant located on the Kenai Spur Highway with all assets included. White said he expects an offer from a potential buyer later this week.
Alaska Lanes owner Ken Liedes said the bowling alley located on the Spur Highway has been for sale for more than a year and the asking price is $600,000. Liedes said this has been a difficult month after his wife, Johanna Liedes, passed away on the first of the year. He said she was the bookkeeper and he has since brought in an accountant to help straighten things out.
“We have been late on liquor payments before,” Liedes said. “I’m doing what I can to figure things out.”
Alaska Lanes owes the borough nearly $10,000 in sales and real property taxes.
Starvin Marvin’s Pizza in Homer and Terry’s Fish & Chips in Seward are also delinquent in tax payments to the borough.
Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.
