Mills County approves two liquor-license renewals; staff seeks legal guidance on abstentions

Mills County officials approved a pair of alcohol-license requests and the consent agenda during a brief session on Monday, and county staff said they have asked outside counsel to clarify whether a board member must abstain from votes on liquor licenses.

A staff member told the meeting that two liquor licenses had been on the agenda at a prior Tuesday meeting when one member, Richard, was absent and another, Jack Sayers, customarily abstains on liquor-license matters. "We are reaching out to our, lawyer company, Ehlers and Cooney, to get clarification on whether Jack really does need to be abstaining for liquor licenses going forward," the staff member said. Staff said it had not yet received a response from the firm.

Committee business included a motion to approve the annual renewal of a Class C retail alcohol license for "Toby Jack's Menu on Steakhouse," effective April 1, 2026. The motion was made by a committee member and seconded by the Chair; after no discussion, two members voted "Aye" and the motion was approved.

The body also approved a five-day Class C retail alcohol license for a community center, for the period from Feb. 26 through March 2, 2026. That motion passed after a second and a pair of "Aye" votes.

After the votes, staff said they would enter the approved licenses on the Alcohol Division website and complete the administrative approvals before leaving. The meeting adjourned following a motion that the committee member made to adjourn at 3:59:12; the motion was seconded and approved.

The session was brief enough that the Chair observed it was the "shortest meeting we'll ever have."