Steve McFadden loses liquor license for Urbandale bar, his 4th this summer

Embattled bar owner Steve McFadden lost another of his liquor licenses, this time for Fat Charlie's Tavern in Urbandale.

The Urbandale City Council, at the advice of police Chief Rob Johansen, voted to deny the license renewal at its meeting Tuesday. This is the fourth license he's lost in the wake of recent criminal charges — including the unauthorized use and placement of a GPS tracking device, harassment and assault — as well as cities' concerns about his finances because of state and federal tax liens.

In addition to his criminal charges, Johansen said in a memo to City Council there are three mechanic's liens against property owned by McFadden for work that remains unpaid.

"Upon review, McFadden has engaged in activity that brings into question whether he is a person of good moral character as required in state law for a person to be granted a liquor license," the memo said.

Fat Charlie's Tavern is located at 3825 121st St. in Urbandale. He has 30 days to appeal the denial to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, which his lawyer William Kutmus said he plans to do.

Kutmus said the truth will come out during that hearing.

"These so-called council meetings are not hearings. What the City Council does is feed on social media and the media," he said. "None of it is under oath, it is not a hearing and not subject to cross examination.”

McFadden has lost liquor licenses at both Grumpy Goat Tavern locations in West Des Moines and for the Tipsy Crow Tavern in downtown Des Moines.

Those rulings were appealed, Kutmus said.

McFadden also owns Dough Mama's Pizzeria in downtown Des Moines. The liquor license there has not been up for renewal.

Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter@NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Steve McFadden loses liquor license at Fat Charlie's in Urbandale