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Mitchell council approves conditional‑use permit for convenience store to allow on‑sale beer/wine and video gaming; multiple administrative measures pass
Summary
The Mitchell City Council approved a conditional‑use permit permitting on‑site wine and beer sales and a small video‑gaming area at 1218 East 1st, after discussion of boundaries and neighborhood concerns. The council also approved a package liquor license high bid, a regional drug task force agreement, license renewals and a supplemental appropriation.
The Mitchell City Council approved a conditional‑use permit that allows New LLC, the operator of a convenience store at 1218 East 1st, to apply for on‑sale wine and beer and to install a small, segregated video‑gaming area.
Applicants’ attorney Jim Taylor said the South Dakota Gaming Commission requires a separate, posted gaming area and prohibits anyone under age 21 from entering a gaming area. Taylor told the council that an on‑sale license is a prerequisite for a state gaming license and that the conditional‑use permit before the council would enable the applicant to seek the necessary liquor and gaming licenses. He said the applicants expect two to four machines, noting the state maximum is 10 per license but that space constraints make a larger number unlikely.
Resident Martin Iles urged the council to consider neighborhood impact, arguing that placing gambling and on‑sale liquor in a neighborhood shopping area could harm residents. “We all know gambling and alcohol is an addiction,” Iles said during public comment, and asked whether the city should permit those uses in a residentially oriented area. Council members asked staff to provide boundary maps and examples when any future license transfer and boundary map are submitted, and discussed options such as limiting alcohol or gaming to a walled area inside the building.
After discussion, councilmembers moved and approved the conditional‑use permit. The roll call showed a majority in favor and at least one dissenting vote; council resumed the regular session after the Board of Adjustment adjourned.
Votes at a glance: Westside Sinclair high bid approved for a newly created package liquor license (high bid reported at $20,601) and the council approved the high bid; the James Valley Drug Task Force joint powers agreement was renewed for the coming year; the council approved renewal applications for 2026 liquor and wine licenses; and council adopted ordinance O2025‑17, a supplemental appropriation for FY2025 that included a $65,000 addition for traffic‑signal maintenance expected to be reimbursed by insurance.
Chief Snippling described the drug task force agreement as essentially unchanged from prior years and asked the council to approve it for continued regional cooperation. Staff also noted the supplemental appropriation change and that the $65,000 would be available as budget authority while reimbursement timing remains uncertain.
What happens next: approval of the conditional‑use permit allows the applicant to proceed with the alcohol license application and to seek state approval for gaming. Any transferred liquor/gaming license will include review of the applicants’ boundary map and can carry additional conditions set by the council.
