Mitchell City Council considering $190,000 for liquor license

Talk about it

The Mitchell City Council is prepared to set a price for a liquor license for a full-service restaurant: $190,000.

It’s one of two alcohol-related matters on Monday’s agenda.

The council will review Resolution 2975, setting the fee for a liquor license for a full-service restaurant, at its meeting tonight. The council has already passed an ordinance allowing the sale of such licenses.

Under state law, the council had to set a price based on the market value of liquor licenses.

The Legislature allowed the sale of such licenses in recent years. It’s considered a form of economic development, as restaurants and hotels that are considering moving to a city want to be able to serve liquor but found cities and towns without any more to issue.

Several cities now offer the licenses, which can only be issued to restaurants that make the majority of their money on food sales.

A new business must first attempt to buy a liquor license from a current owner in Mitchell and the city will keep a list of licenses that are available.

If none can be bought, the city can issue one for the price it sets.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 612 N. Main St. The meeting is open to the public.

In other business, the council will:

* Review Ordinance 2397, authorizing the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on sidewalks by restaurants.

The council first discussed this two weeks ago, after a request was made to allow restaurants to serve an alcoholic drink at a sidewalk setting outside businesses.

Cornerstone Coffeehouse and Deli, 123 E. Third Ave., asked for the change.

Geri Beck, a co-owner of the business and former member of the council, said it would be another way to serve and attract customers.

Public Safety Chief Lyndon Overweg said right now, drinking alcohol outside a business is an open-container offense.

Some councilmen said other cities allow such service and it is only for dining, not for people who are out drinking. Councilmen Greg McCurry and Marty Barington spoke out in favor of it, saying most people would order a glass of wine, beer or a drink to have with a meal.

Councilman Mel Olson, who has opposed previous expansions of liquor laws in the city, said he was unsure if it was a good idea.

City Attorney Randy Stiles was asked to prepare an ordinance setting guideline for sidewalk service.

* Set a March 12 date for a meeting on the Next Generation Corn Palace Area Development Project.

The council decided last month to hold regular meetings to discuss ideas for an expanded and/or remodeled Corn Palace.

* Hold the first readings on Ordinance 2395, to set a definition of “at large” in regards to dogs running loose, and an amendment to Ordinance 2396, the dog leash laws in public parks.

The new ordinance and the amendment on the current ordinance will allow people to let their dogs run free in the new city dog park.

* Sit as the Board of Adjustment to:

Set a March 19 date for a hearing on the application of Mary Hohn for a variance to construct an addition at 608 S. Edgerton St. The request is being made because the side yard setback will not be met.

Set a March 19 date for a hearing on the application of Interactive Outdoor Media Inc. for a variance to construct an off-premise sign at 1001 S. Burr St. The request is being made because the distance from other off-premise signs will not be met.

Hold a hearing on the application of Stephanie Swanson for a conditional use permit to operate a dog grooming business at 1513 E. Ash Ave.

Hold a hearing on the application of Stephanie Everson for a conditional use permit to operate a day care at 509 E. Sixth Ave.

Hold a hearing on the application of Verizon Wireless for a conditional use permit to construct a tower at 1525 W. Havens Ave. The property is zoned a highway oriented business district. A Verizon tower requires a conditional use permit in that district.

Hold a hearing on the application of Bob Plastow for a conditional use permit to operate a home occupation computer business at 808 E. Third Ave.

The application has been a point of dispute between Plastow and a neighboring couple at a Planning and Zoning Commission and at the Feb. 20 City Council meeting.

The council advised the neighbors to come up with a solution.

Hold a hearing on the application of Larry and Kathy Gebel for a variance to construct a carport at 1118 S. Kimball St. The request is being made because the square footage and the front yard setback will not be met.

This issue also has been held up because of a dispute between neighbors but a compromise recommendation from the Planning Commission will be offered to the council.

* Hear a report from the Sidewalk Committee, which will meet at 7:05 p.m. to discuss hazardous sidewalks and new sidewalks.

* Award a bid on rock chips, city project 2012-10.

Spencer Quarry has submitted the only bids.

* Award a bid on a skid loader for the Street and Sanitation Division. It’s city project 2012-16.

There are six bids ranging from $44,000 to $51,150.

* Set a March 26 date to receive and consider bids for petroleum products, city project 2012-13, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

* Set a March 26 date to receive and consider bids for curb and gutter projects, city project 2012-14 at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

* Set a March 26 date to receive and consider bids for paving and overlay, city project 2012-15, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

* Hold the second reading of and consider adopting Ordinance 2393, supplemental appropriations of $20,000 for water distribution on National Guard Road and $12,000 for golf course equipment.

* Hold the second reading of and consider adopting Ordinance 2394, supplemental reappropriations for several city departments and divisions.

The money is being shifted from 2011 projects that were not completed.

* Consider approval of the 2011 Annual Financial Report.

* Authorized the finance officer to transfer $35,000 for 2011 and an additional $7,500 for 2012 to the Mitchell Regional Landfill Closure/Postclosure Reserve Fund from Sanitation Cash Balance due to adjusted costs from recertification.

* Declare surplus a Glock Model 22 handgun, serial number RDE849.

* Consider the application of the Palace City Lions Club for a Special Event Malt Beverage License at the Corn Palace on April 14 for the Hairball concert.

* Approve these raffle requests: men’s slow pitch softball, with the drawing to be held May 23, and Helping with Horsepower, with the drawing to be held Oct. 22.

* Approve a tax abatement of taxes in the amount of $1,538.68 to KL City Properties for Lots 2 and 3 in Block 13 of the original addition due to qualifying for discretionary on portion of renovated building.

* Approve an abatement of taxes in the amount of $112.52 to city for the east 64 feet of Lot 12, 13, and 14 in Block 18 of the Original Addition due to it being purchased by a tax-exempt entity.

* Approve these pay estimates:

Archeodome TransEnhancement Project 2009-40 contracted to Archeology Lab-Augusta. Pay estimate 6 in the amount of $14,968.12.

Crack Sealer/Melter Street Division Project 2011-44 contracted to Bierschbach Equipment. Pay estimate 1, final, in the amount of $28,795.

Spruce Street Utility Location Project 2012-26 contracted to SPN & Associates. Pay estimate 2 in the amount of $3,750.

* Hear the invocation from a New Home Lutheran Church representative.

Tags: city council, liquor licenses, news, updates, local, mitchell