Sweetwater council approves liquor-store rule change, safety grant, appointment and work on Biggs building

The Sweetwater Town Council on Monday approved a package of routine and policy actions, including an ordinance to ease display-size requirements for packaged liquor stores in the town's Main Street district, authorization to apply for a $3,000 private safety grant with a 50% local match, a temporary appointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission and work to restore the Biggs building.

The council adopted Ordinance 10-46, described in the meeting packet as an amendment that "allow[s] a smaller building to fit the requirements for a liquor package store" in the Main Street district. Council members discussed the relationship between the ordinance and the Main Street district boundary, with staff explaining that the Main Street Board must first approve the district boundary before the town council takes final action. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioners Hughes, Mosier, Richardson, Jenks and Stutz each voted aye.

The council also approved applying for a safety grant from the town's insurance provider that provides up to $3,000 with a required 50% local match. Jessica (first name only in the record) explained the grant is awarded through the town's insurer and is typically used for department safety gear and training; examples cited included boots for parks or street employees, gloves, cones, high-visibility vests or training equipment. The council voted to seek the grant; the motion carried.

Commissioner Hughes moved to fill a temporary vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission with Marcus Johnson through June 30, 2025. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

On building repairs, the council approved previously presented masonry work on the Biggs building and voted to authorize installation of a temporary water tap and a temporary power pole so contractors can continue restoration work. John (first name only in the record) said the utility company quoted "about a thousand dollars" to set a water meter so a contractor could use water for cleaning and basement work, and that a temporary power pole could cost on the order of several thousand dollars; he said contractors had been using a generator in the meantime. Council members approved moving forward with the hookups and related temporary utilities.

The council also accepted the monthly distributions and financial report presented by Sonia (first name only), who said the packet looked "a little thicker this month" because a check-run malfunction required voiding and reissuing a check. Sonia reviewed several large payments recorded in the packet, including $64,734.09 for health insurance premiums (employee and employer portions), a $49,217.83 payment to Security Bank and Trust Company for police-vehicle debt, and a $25,641.08 garbage contract payment in the solid-waste fund.

The council opened a public hearing on a resolution to increase the comp-time limit to an 80-hour maximum; no members of the public were registered to speak on the matter. Following the hearing the council adopted a handbook amendment as presented in the packet.

All motions brought during the meeting were carried by the council unless otherwise noted in the official minutes.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 10-46 (amend packaged-liquor display rules for Main Street district): Passed, roll-call aye votes from Commissioners Hughes, Mosier, Richardson, Jenks and Stutz. - Safety grant application (up to $3,000, 50% match): Approved (motion carried). - Appointment of Marcus Johnson to fill Park & Rec vacancy through 2025-06-30: Approved (motion carried). - Approval of masonry work on Biggs building and authorization to install a water tap and temporary power pole: Approved (motion carried). - Adoption of handbook amendment increasing comp-time limit to 80 hours (resolution as presented): Approved (motion carried).

The council adjourned after completing the agenda and handling miscellaneous routine business.