The city of Staples is removing all city imposed limits on the number of offsale liquor store licenses.

That action came Jan. 12 as the city council chose to not continue a policy of limiting the number of licenses for selling intoxicating liquor by the bottle. That route was not available to the city, based on a recommendation from the city’s attorney. The state does not allow separate licenses for licensing what the council members have been calling stand-alone liquor stores.

Rob Schmieg made the motion to remove all city imposed limits on such licenses. He said he would like to see a limit but, if he were to choose a number, it would just be picking a number out of his hat.

“We really don’t cap anything else,” he added. He and other members of the council were tired of having this item on their agenda, he noted. The motion asked the city attorney to provide a first draft of a new ordinance at their next meeting. That motion was approved on a 5-2 vote, with Roy Miles and Joel Quance opposed.

This issue arose late last year with the construction of the new Ernie’s Food Market under way. A small segment of that store has been designed for a package liquor store. The council last fall initially chose not to add to the number of liquor licenses, which was at six. The council re-visited the issue in December, deciding to ask for legal advice on whether to have a limit or not on liquor licenses.

In other matters, the city council:

o APPROVED an ordinance amending the city zoning ordinance establishing setbacks and height requirements for awnings in commercial areas. The amendment will allow awnings and overhangs as long as they are at least eight feet above the ground (sidewalk) and do not extend any closer than five feet from the curb of the street.

o APPROVED nine applications for city tobacco licenses.

o APPROVED a pawnbroker’s license for Cody Nelson at Iron Hills West Gun and Pawn in Staples.

o APPROVED a cooperative agreement with Todd County for the county to administer the right of way acquisition process for the North/South Corridor and railroad overpass project.

o BRIEFLY discussed a proposed Rules of Decorum for city council and committee meetings. Mayor Chris Etzler suggested with the move to the new and larger city council chambers, the council should have a more formal set of operating rules. “It isn’t that much larger, yet we’re not going to be able to have the interaction, perhaps, that we’ve had here,” he said. He asked the council members to read over a written rules statement he had prepared and plan to discuss it at their next meeting. The Jan. 26 session at 7 p.m. will be the first council meeting in the new city hall.

o WAS INFORMED, by high school students attending the meeting, of a stop sign at Eighth Street and Michigan that was obstructed by a tree’s branches.

o DISCUSSED snow removal and other issues related to the heavy snowfall experienced over the Christmas period. Cleaning of sidewalks was one of the items discussed.

o DISCUSSED how city hall would operate the week of Jan. 18-22, when the offices are being moved. People should continue to call 894-2550 for city government issues that week. The phone system will re-direct all calls to the city police department that week until phone service is re-routed to the new city hall.

The city library will move the following week, with those offices not open for normal business that week. A public open house for the new city hall and library building is planned for Feb. 26.