The May 25 Staples City Council session could only be called short and sweet.

The very light agenda was essentially very routine or very mundane. The council was asked to approve the normal city liquor licenses and was about to do so - with a motion made and seconded - when city staff informed the council that one, Gary’s Place, had a past due bill from the city. It was noted the city’s policy is not to renew to establishments with outstanding accounts.

The council amended their motion, deleting Gary’s Place from the list of establishments requesting an on and off sale intoxicating liquor license. City staff was instructed to renew the license if and when the past due bill is paid.

Seven of eight establishments requesting on and off sale licenses were approved (Lefty’s, Twisted Sisters, Captain Ron’s Sports Bar, Staples Off Sale, T Maxwell’s, The Liquor Depot and Staple Food Corp.) Also okayed were one permit for a consumption and display license (Staples Fire Relief Assoc.); four (Staple Food Corp, Staples Self Serv, SouthSide Mini Mart and Orton Motors, Inc.) for 3.2 percent off-sale malt liquor and one 3.2 percent on-sale malt liquor license (Giovanni’s Pizza).

The city ordinance regarding the sale and possession of tobacco and any other tobacco or tobacco related products was amended, with new language added to cover tobacco shops. The changes were needed to cover the addition of a tobacco shop in the new Ernie’s Food Mart to open soon. A tobacco shop is one of separate shops to be included inside the new store being completed on Highway 10 east.

City Administrator Nate Mathews had a shorter than normal report. His activities had included being involved in an energy audit on the new Staples City Hall. He was working with accounting firms on the bonding arrangements for the Old Highway 10 Turnback project.

He also reported to the council that the alley between Fourth and Fifth Streets under the city’s water tower had been paved that day.

Also Mathews said, in a relieved manner, that new Public Works Director Doug Bendorf was due to start working for the city Tuesday, June 1. Bendorf is coming from Owatonna, where he worked for the Owatonna Public Utilities for over 20 years, with experience working in both their electrical and natural gas departments.

Even city council members had few if any items to bring up. About the only one was Joel Quance saying the city needed to get their city charter commission reactivated.

The meeting started at 7 p.m. and was adjourned right at 7:15 p.m.