With virtually no discussion, the Staples City Council on Jan. 26 okayed deleting any limit to the number of ‘off sale’ liquor licenses the city can issue.

The Jan. 26 council session was the first session ever held in the new Staples City Hall and Library building. It was also one of the council’s shortest sessions in recent years, wrapping up just 35 minutes after it began at 7 p.m.

The city has had a sentence in the city ordinance covering off-sale liquor licenses that states... “Not more than six “off sale” licenses shall be issued.” The amendment that was passed Jan. 26 simply states that sentence shall be deleted.

This action was accomplished on a 5-2 vote, with council members Roy Miles and Joel Quance voting against the action.

In previous council sessions, the issue had come up, the first time based on the premise that the new Ernie’s Food Market would be applying for a license to sell package liquor in a portion of the building. The existing six licenses had been issued when the new Depot Liquor store opened about a year ago.

After first being turned down by the council, the issue re-surfaced when Al Erbe, Ernie’s owner, appeared at a council meeting for several issues, including the prospect of an off sale liquor license. The majority of the council appeared tired of the issue and questioned why the city imposes a limit on liquor sales, when it doesn’t limit the number of other city licenses. The matter was referred to the city attorney, who recommended the amendment acted on by the council last week.

In another ordinance amendment with even less discussion, the council amended the city’s zoning ordinance by permitting awnings as long as they are set back from the curb at least five feet and the lowest part of the awning has to be eight feet off the ground. This action was in anticipation of downtown construction this coming summer that could see new awnings erected after street work is completed. Downtown building owners can receive low interest loans from the city EDA for awning construction, while Small Cities Development Grant funds have also been available for building renovation.

The council members, after two weeks to look them over, approved a set of rules for city council and city committee meetings to follow. The rules, which were first presented by Mayor Chris Etzler, all for all attending city meetings, including the members and the public, to conduct themselves in an orderly and civil fashion without resorting to shouting or other unseemly conduct.

The rules are to be posted in the council chambers and elsewhere for all to see.

In other matters, the council:

o AUTHORIZED an engineering feasibility study on the Highway 10 turnback improvement project. Widseth, Smith Nolting Engineers are to report back on the costs and other issues of the project planned for this summer.

o APPROVED two items from the city’s Community Services and Forestry and Beautification boards. The council granted permission to the Staples Business Group and Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce to use the Dower Lake park on Saturday, Feb. 20 for their Winter Family Fun Day activities. Plans call for a fishing contest, wiener roast, softball tourney, cross country skiing and other snow activities.

o APPROVED Resolution No. 1492 in support of a grant application for the city’s Legacy Trail, planned to connect the Legacy Gardens to the city through the city’s airport property/

o HEARD City Administrator Nate Mathews’ report, which was mainly on the move into the new city hall, which was accomplished the week before. / City offices opened on Monday, Jan. 25, in the new building after being closed the week before for the move. The library move had been completed that day, with unpacking and replacing of materials on the shelves to be done in the last three days of the week.

o HEARD council members note their appreciation to contractors, sub contractors and the Norway Construction Services firm which managed the city hall project.

o LEARNED that Sentence to Serve crews from Todd-Wadena Corrections had shoveled out city fire hydrants around the city.