The Martin City Council approved a Malt Beverage License for Martin Tire at their Feb. 14, monthly meeting.
Prior to the approval, City Attorney Sara Frankenstein said since there is an available license, you can’t deny a liquor license simply because other businesses don’t want them to have it. She said consideration for the license would be to determine if the council considers it is a suitable location and it is a suitable applicant. Because another business does not want the competition is not a sufficient reason to deny.
It was brought up that another business had requested a license in the past and was denied, but it was then stated the business applying had poor management.
Martin Tire owner Tony Powell said he is planning to put in a laundry mat and video lottery and will be hiring up to three more people for the store. He said he has customers who want a casino and needs the license to have the video lottery so they can have something to do while waiting on their vehicles getting worked on.
Jim Gardner, CPA with Casey Peterson, LTD went over the City’s audit of the year ending Dec. 31, 2022.
Gardner said they had a good audit with no findings. There were two things that came up that happens every year that almost everyone has like the City of Martin that can’t be helped.
The City is making $100,000 a year in debt payments and they have good interest rates on the debt. He said you have enough cash reserves to pay off more debt.
He said they are seeing sales tax revenue increasing like most governments are seeing with higher prices on products and more revenue from internet sales taxes that were not there until three years ago.
The board moved to accept the audit as presented.
The council reviewed a sample food truck license application for those operating within the city.
The key components would call for a certificate of liability insurance with a policy of not less than $1 million per occurrence, copy of a state mobile food service license, copy of state sales tax license, a photo of the vehicle and a $100 fee.
The license would run from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 each year.
Martin business owner Bob Toczek said his complaint about the food trucks is they can operate out of their home or on the street and do not have the taxes he pays... property tax, alcohol tax, any that he has to pay.
City resident Bob Fogg asked the mayor if he had an estimate of what a $1 million policy would cost relative to suppressing lower income individuals.
Mayor Rayhill responded he has no idea.
He then asked councilman Jay Yohner what he thought it would be and Yohner said it would be an expense for sure.
Mayor Rayhill said he would suggest the council send it to attorney Frankenstein to review and make some adjustments to it and bring it back to the council.
The council agreed to table it for now.
Under law department, Police Chief Doug Lucero reported that for the month of January they had 161 calls for service, 101 traffic stops, 14 arrests with three of those misdemeanor warrants and 1 a felony warrant arrest. They had six city ordinance tickets written.
He said officer Jase Standing Bear will be going to the academy March 3, and should be finished in June.
Lucero informed the council they would like to surplus four tasers and had someone interested in paying about $850 for the tasers, cartridges and batteries for them. The department has new tasers to replace the old ones.
The council said they will need to first surplus them and the mayor appointed councilpersons Lindsee Harris, Gloria Claussen and Gregg Claussen as appraisers.
Councilman Jay Yohner addressed the council about continued discussion of improving the area of the City Park in the volleyball court area. There is a proposal from Tallgrass Landscape Architecture to draft a plan and carry out the plan for improvements to the area. The cost for professional services to put a plan together would be $10,160.
Yohner said some ideas they are considering include a splash pad that can possibly be converted to a skating rink in the winter, a playground with musical/sensory items, a pavilion or picnic area and more.
City Finance Manager Jean Kirk asked the board to consider how they were going to pay for this, adding they also have a big sidewalk project coming up.
Yohner responded, “We’re just trying to find ways to improve our community in a positive way and our park, I think, is a good investment because it does bring people to town. It’s a gathering place, a place to have events and a place for a lot of residents to make memories and spend time with their families. This would be a good way to improve Martin.”
He said they can take the concepts presented by Tallgrass, should they use them, to seek grants to help fund the project. He added the next step would be for the City to approve the professional services contract and move forward.
No action was taken. The City approved making Mayor Rayhill a Designation of Applicant Agent and passed resolution 2024-#1 which appoints Rayhill as the Authorized Applicant Agent for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Both of these things were needed to seek funding for a new generator for the City.
City Foreman Paul Noel said they need a new Bobcat to replace their current one. The total cost of the new machine plus other needed equipment after trading in the old one is $45,285.79.
The council approved the purchase.
The council approved the annual hwy brooming contract with the state for 2024-25. The state pays $110 per hour for up to 48 hours to the City.
The flashing crosswalk sign on Hwy 18 east of the intersection is set to get repaired by the state soon and once it is operational, the City was asked to take it over. The council moved to approve taking it over, after it is operational.
The council moved to approve the final airport payment of $114,000.
The Council moved to approve a letter of support for the Hwy 18 road project coming up. It is an 11 mile stretch from the Jct of Hwy 18 and 73 heading east.
The next regular City of Martin council meeting is set for March 13.