City Council does an about face
The City Council changed it’s mind about granting an operator’s license to a person, who they voted to deny it two days earlier. An operator’s license allows a person to tend bar in a local tavern.
At the council’s regular monthly meeting of March 19th the council on a four to two vote denied a request for an operator’s license to Nicholas Mrdutt. The denial was due to the recommendation from Police Chief Robert Darwin who noted an alcohol related offense in the past five years.
Council Person Ken Peterson requested a special meeting for Wednesday evening, March 21st. Peterson had made the motion on March 19th to deny the request for an operator’s license.
City Attorney Autumn Lindquist responded to a question from City Clerk/Treasurer about holding a special meeting. Her written response stated: “I understand that you have posted this for a meeting this evening, (March 21st) however there is a legal issue with that. Unless the denied applicant filed the request pursuant to the ordinance (which the meeting would be held accordingly, not tonight) OR one of the council members who voted for the denial has requested the meeting wanting to change his/her vote, we have no authority to have this meeting and it will technically be considered an illegal meeting. John (Larson) as the Mayor does not have the legal authority to call a special meeting to reconsider this issue because he did not like the outcome.”
Council member Peterson noted that he had requested the special meeting and he was one of the four members in the majority that voted to deny the license and Peterson stated that his request was made to allow the necessary 24-hour period to call a special meeting.
All members of the council were present at this meeting and Mayor Larson questioned Mrdutt if he would like the council to move into a closed session. Tribune Press Reporter editor Carlton DeWitt noted that he would object to the council going into closed session as Mrdutt was not a city employee or could find any other legal reason for a closed session.
Peterson stated that he could bring forth the question without going back over the discussion the council had on the matter at Monday’s meeting. After some discussion on the legal matter on what members could introduce a motion Peterson moved to grant the operator’s license with Ben DeGross seconding the motion and all six members of the council voting yes.
