Hastings council denies tobacco-license renewal for Speedway West store after repeated violations

The Hastings City Council denied the tobacco-license renewal for Speedway West (store 4486) after staff presented evidence of repeated compliance failures in age-verification checks.

Assistant City Administrator Kelly Merch said annual compliance checks, conducted by police and staff, showed the West store repeatedly failed to meet legal requirements for prohibiting sales to buyers under 21. Merch told the council the store had prior fines and a seven-day suspension and that staff recommended denying the license for the 2026–27 licensing period.

"Speedway West, which is store 4486 on the west side of town, has repeatedly not met the compliance requirements," Merch said. She said Council had approved a $1,000 fine and a seven-day suspension for a prior violation, and that staff would send notice of the denial to the local store and corporate compliance office immediately. Ordinance requires the recipient of a denial to have 10 days to request a hearing before council; if requested, the hearing would be scheduled at the next council meeting.

Council members voiced that denial targets tobacco sales and not the store’s ability to sell other goods, and that staff had provided opportunities for compliance in prior years. Council Member Lyfield moved to deny the tobacco-license renewal on the staff recommendation; Council Member Veroff seconded and the motion passed on a voice vote.

The denial affects only the store’s authorization to sell tobacco products for the 2026–27 licensing year; Merch said the corporate office and local store will be notified and the store can appeal to council within 10 days under ordinance procedures.