TRIMONT - The El Rodeo restaurant and bar in Trimont is considered a hot spot on Saturdays due to its house mariachi band and catering to the Hispanic population and culture. However, there are some nights when things have gotten out of control, with fighting, loitering and drinking on neighboring property, and other incidents where police needed to get involved.

At Monday's City Council meeting, both the city and bar owner Mike Gonzalez took actions to curb this bad behavior.

"I have zero tolerance for anyone that tries to fight or trash my place," Gonzalez said. "If they start that, they are out. I will ban them."

After a few attempts to have individuals act as security on Saturday evenings, Gonzalez has hired a professional security team, G and L Securities from Mankato.

Security Sergeant Matthew Lange also attended the meeting. He explained that he and his partner go through the same training as law enforcement officers and are licensed to be armed. However, the team will only carry tasers and handcuffs. They will also have a security van to hold an individual until police arrive.

"We decided not to be armed here, since we do have a law enforcement presence here as well," Lange said.

The company also provides similar services to a club in Willmar.

"We are in full cooperation with law enforcement there, as well," Lange said, going as far as to ask whether the city and police would prefer them to wear their security guard uniforms while at El Rodeo.

"I think that is exactly what we need," said Mayor Thomas Eckmann.

The company performed security at El Rodeo last weekend, and it seemed to have the desired effect, with no disruptions that needed police attention.

City Council members, police and Gonzalez all seem pleased with the results.

"I think this is a really good step," said council member Karen Koerder. "Mike is really giving it his best shot."

During the meeting with Lange, the council mentioned some of the specific problems they want to see addressed, such as patrons going outside and drinking alcohol, along with loitering on the properties of other nearby businesses and residences.

"It hasn't been a problem lately, because it's been cold," said council member Thomas Hage. "But it will probably come up again when the weather gets nice."

While the hiring of the security team for El Rodeo was a plus, the council also prepared to take other action if necessary. A proposed change to the town's ordinance to cut down the sale of alcohol after 1 a.m. was introduced, with possible enactment at a future meeting.

"There's only two places that sell until 2 a.m. in the county, and that's Welcome and here," Eckmann said.

While the possible ordinance change was introduced, the council decided not to act on it until results are seen with the new El Rodeo security team.

"I really think he's on the right track," Hage said. "But we still need to safeguard the community."

With holiday celebrations - specifically New Year's Eve when the restaurant portion of El Rodeo will open at 2 a.m. New Year's Day - the council agreed busy nights with the new security team would be the real test.

If the council later decides to pass the new ordinance, the change would not take effect until the business needs to re-apply for its liquor license.

In other business, the council held its budget and levy public hearing. After an originally proposed 6.79 percent increase, the levy increase was dropped and approved at 6.1 percent, or $14,259. The cut was made after the council agreed to drop wage increases down from 4 percent to 3 percent. The total levy amount for 2010 is $246,602.