The Brass Monkey, a downtown Fort Dodge bar that was the site of a shooting and several other recent disturbances, is poised to reopen under new ownership.

The City Council approved a liquor license for new owner Shanda Marks Monday.

Police Chief Roger Porter gave the council a list of incidents that the police responded to at the bar that filled three pages. But council members agreed that it would not be fair to hold those problems against Marks.

“That information pertains to the previous owner,” Councilman Jeff Halter said.

Marks, who worked at the bar under its previous owner, said she is “trying to clean it up.”

Marks made a lengthy presentation to the council in which she said she will work to make the Brass Monkey a fun and safe place to be.

“I would love to make it perfect and safe and fun,” she said.

She said she will not tolerate bad behavior in the establishment, and described how she jumped over the bar to chase an armed man after a shooting incident.

She said that the summary of incidents Porter gave the council includes things that happened in the city parking lot next to the bar.

Marks added that when she called police to offer tips to them about criminal activity, those calls were listed among the incidents.

The council meeting room was filled with dozens of supporters of Marks.

“I believe in giving people chances,” Councilwoman Lydia Schuur said before the council voted.

Councilman Neven Conrad was absent from the otherwise unanimous vote to approve the license.