By Patrick Tepoorten

The Rush City Council met Feb. 12 in hopes of investigating the future of North End Liquor, but were unable to do so because the market analysis author was not present to decipher it for the council. The council did discuss the store's future at length, but did not take any action.

The council did view the liquor store's year end report, which showed the store at a profit of $13,142.94, down from $24,126, last year. The difference is in the on-sale portion of the business, which went from a profit of $4,810 last year, to a deficit of $2,512 this year.

Some of that dip in revenue can be attributed to the market analysis. Half of the roughly $7,000 cost was paid for by the liquor store. But that is only a fraction of the difference, which manager Carol Hanson attributed to the shape of on-sale business. "That is just the way it is going," she said.

A discussion about the future of the store on Monday night was very positive, and nothing was off the table. It was ultimately decided to put figures together for a 3,000 square foot structure to get a better idea of cost. When that is completed, the council will discuss possible next steps.

A discussion of the market analysis was postponed in the hope that authors could attend the next council meeting on Feb. 26.

The council did approve a new cash register system for the store, at a cost of $4,590.

In other city news:

• An agreement between the city and Rush City school district was approved. In exchange for allowing the district to attach its communications antenna to the tower, the district has agreed to make improvements to the parking lot across the street from city hall. There are still minor stipulations to be worked out.

• A survey was approved for land east of the county fairgrounds and west of residential neighborhoods along 4th Street. The North Chisago Historical Society (NCHS) would like to put a building there, on land owned by the city. There was discussion regarding a drainage ditch on the property and its location, which, in the spirit of local history, NCHS president Carl Heinrich noted used to drain a cranberry bog.

• Requests by Park Board members for meeting compensation produced a lengthy discussion but, ultimately, no compensation for regular meetings. The council did approve compensation for special meetings, after a motion by Councilor Nancy Schroeder to deny any compensation died for lack of a second.

• A resolution in support of the Alliance for Safe Highways, which is fighting an effort by state legislators to increase weight restriction for semis, was signed by the council.

• Amendments to ordinance 1004.04, creating commercial parking lot setbacks, and 1006.01, to reflect state law changes, were made. The amendment to 1006.01 makes it possible for residential property owners to rebuild when they are in a non-conforming zone.