By Barbara Brown

Council members retracted a previous order to refund the cost of a conditional use permit, saying if they retracted one they would be forced to retract all other charges to other residents.

Carmen Anderson, owner of A-1 Auto had been granted a refund of charges for an amended conditional use permit during the June 3 meeting.

Anderson was moving her car lot from one leased property to another immediately adjacent.

The council agreed to refund Andersonís money after they learned at the June 3 meeting that there would be no changes to the use.

However, at the July 1 council meeting, City Attorney Kevin Shoeberg told the council it would open a door that would be hard to close if it granted the refund.

Shoeberg said if the council refunded the $184.50 Anderson paid to cover costs associated with the amended conditional use permit it should refund money to anyone who had ever applied for an amended conditional use permit.

The council agreed and rescinded the refund. Anderson told the council she understood the decision and agreed with it, but she said next time a situation comes up similarly that the attorney should speak up sooner.

Also at the meeting, the council approved an on-sale liquor license, a 2 a.m. bar closing and licenses to sell food and cigarettes to Jason Agnew.

Agnew is leasing the old T & D Lounge from its new owner. Agnew plans to open a restaurant and bar in the old lounge and call the new place ìBig Daddyís.î

The 2 a.m. closing time would only apply until August when the cityís trial period for the late closing would come for review. The restaurant is not expected to open within the coming month.

The council also:

ï accepted a bid from Rydberg from Rush City for class 5 gravel at $5.97 per ton. The next bidder was Bauerly at $6.35 per ton and Bjorklund for $7.45 per ton;

ï accepted an option to buy a 1999 truck for use by Mike Kritz, the cityís maintenance manager. The truck is equipped with a plow and sweeper and includes all the options the city was seeking in a budgeted new truck. The used vehicle ñ with 45,000 miles ñ will cost $36,000. The council approved a five-year equipment certificate to pay for the truck which would make the payments about $7,000 per year.

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