COEUR d'ALENE - Booze for a boiler?

Cocktail for some carpet?

How about refreshments for a roof?

The Coeur d'Alene Jewett House wants to add a touch of bubbly to its weddings this year, hoping that allowing alcohol will entice prospective brides and grooms to say 'I do' at the 2-acre spread east of Sanders Beach.

Weddings and their receptions would be a good revenue source to pay for upkeep on the 96-year-old house, Jewett House members said.

Specifically, it could go for a new boiler, roof and coats of paint.

"It's been done at two different locations at it's worked," said Steve Anthony, recreation director, on allowing alcohol on city grounds. "We feel comfortable with this."

The city will consider next week adopting an ordinance allowing the change. The 7,000-square-foot Jewett House is primarily a senior recreation center with beachfront property, but can host 10 weddings a year through the trust agreement the city has with Potlatch Corp. The site has hosted weddings since the late 1980s, but without alcohol allowed, the Jewett House board has had a difficult time filling those 10 slots.

In fact, it's one of the first things perspective brides and grooms want to know, said Marla Lake, house manager. She receives five or six calls a week inquiring about the spot, but little interest after she explains the rule.

"I have three brides waiting," Lake said of prospective couples waiting for the rule change to reserve a wedding at the site, 1501 East Lakeshore Drive.

By changing it, she hopes the house will generate around $1,700 a wedding. It costs $850 for a three-hour slot, $250 an hour after that. Funds would go to maintenance on the house, which turns 100 in 2017. Perspective couples have to apply for the site, and the house board reviews them. The change would not allow booze on the house's beach. The house generates all of its funds outside of the $10,000 it receives annually from the city.

Nor will the weddings interfere with senior activities at the house, board members said.

The Potlatch Corporation gave the home to the city in 1976 for its senior citizens. Scheduled activities include pinochle, bridge, quilting, and club meetings.

In the last couple of years, the city has allowed for alcohol at Riverstone as part of its concert series, and at the library for its foundation's fundraisers.

The City Council will consider the change at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 in the library.