Caribou City Council approves new liquor license for Jade Palace restaurant

The Caribou City Council meeting held on May 27, 2025, focused on key administrative matters, including the approval of a janitorial services contract and a public hearing regarding a liquor license for the Jade Palace restaurant.

The council reviewed a bid for janitorial services, which is put out for bid every three years. Only one bid was received from BMP Cleaners, the current service provider. The new contract will see an increase in fees, with the city office's monthly cost rising to $1,100 in 2025, $1,125 in 2026, and $1,150 in 2027. The police department's fees will also increase, starting at $1,200 per month. The council unanimously approved the contract, ensuring that the cleaning schedule will remain the same, with the police station being cleaned five days a week and the city office three days a week.

In a separate agenda item, the council held a public hearing for the liquor license application from the Jade Palace restaurant, which is under new ownership. The application process required a public hearing due to the change in ownership. The city clerk confirmed that the application had been processed and forwarded to the necessary departments for review. While the police and fire departments approved the renewal, code enforcement noted that a health inspection had not yet been completed, which is necessary for final approval. Despite this, the council moved to approve the liquor license application, allowing the city manager to finalize the online application with the state once all requirements are met.

The meeting concluded with a reminder that the council is actively monitoring the status of the health inspection and other necessary approvals, addressing concerns about potential delays in the process.