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Votes at a glance: Stewartville council approves licenses, pension increase, hires and succession plan
Summary
Council approved routine 2026 liquor and tobacco license renewals, a Stewartville Firefighters Relief Association bylaw change raising pension amounts from $4,700 to $5,100, seasonal warming-house hires, part-time snow-removal hires and a personnel succession plan for city clerk and planning director positions.
Stewartville — At its regular meeting, the Stewartville City Council approved a package of administrative and personnel measures, including routine license renewals, an increase to firefighter relief pension benefits, seasonal hires and a multi-position succession plan.
Key outcomes
- Liquor licenses: Council approved renewal applications for various establishments, including the American Legion club, Two Brothers Bar and Grill, Down Under Bar and Grill, Fairway Spirits and More, Honest Liquor, both Quick Trip locations, Adamson’s Tavern and the Greens, subject to proper application.
- Tobacco licenses: Council approved renewal applications for Casey’s General Stores (both locations), Fairway Stores Incorporated Liquor and Grocery, Family Dollar, Honest Liquor, Quick Trip and Stewie Smoke Shop. Council clarified that Fairway operates as two distinct businesses, requiring two separate licenses.
- Fire relief bylaw amendment: Council approved a resolution amending the Stewartville Firefighters Relief Association bylaws (articles 7 and 8) to increase the annual benefit/pension amount from $4,700 to $5,100; staff noted the relief association is regulated by state statute and must notify the city because the city could be liable for any shortfall.
- Seasonal and part-time hires: Council approved a slate of contractual warming-house employees for Metal Park and authorized hiring two on-call snow-plow drivers recommended by the public works director.
- Personnel transitions: Council approved the personnel committee’s succession plan to address upcoming retirements — receptionist/deputy clerk Laurel Jacobs (anticipated Jan. 30, 2026) and city clerk/planning director Cheryl Rder (anticipated Oct. 2, 2026) — and a planned Feb. 1, 2026 transition for community development coordinator Cassandra Jefferson into city clerk/planning director.
Most motions in this package were adopted on voice votes; the transcript records motions, seconds and the chair asking for “all in favor.” The council did not record individual roll-call vote tallies in the transcript for these items.
