By Robert Williams

Editor

The Vergas City Council gathered Friday, Sept. 26 for a special meeting to address needs of the liquor store, renew a lease agreement and approve a purchase.

Two items from the recent liquor store exterior improvement project were not completed: a snow break and gutter system, along with the sign installed on a framed dormer.

The project was completed by Refine Homes of Vergas. According to council member James Stenger, the dormer was left off due to the aesthetic of the building.

“They wanted to make sure it was necessary before they put it on, which was not ever brought to the (Liquor Store) committee,” said Stenger.

The snow break and rain gutters were not a part of the original bid. 

An estimate to complete all three changes $3,733.37 to be paid for by an investment that will come due in mid-December worth $152,802. The cost will be added to $45,386 that has been spent from that investment fund, according to Clerk/Treasurer Julie Lammers. Payment will be made from the general fund with those funds reimbursed on the maturity date of the coming due investment.

The Refine Homes bid is broken down to $2,400 to frame the dormer above the entrance and install the snow break, $658.23 on materials and $675.14 for gutter materials and installation.

The Liquor Store committee approved up to $1,000 on a new sign and is awaiting estimates to be collected by Liquor Store Manager Kyle Theisen.

“With the approval of graphics by the Liquor Store committee so we know what it’s going to look like before getting it,” said Stenger.

Rental lease

After some negotiating, the monthly rental payments paid by A Step Up to the city will be raised to $650 per month beginning Nov. 1.

The Liquor Store committee discussed the rental payments, which included a furnace replacement that was done in November of 2024.

“The rent is not paying the expenses for that building,” said Lammers.

The committee met Friday morning to discuss raising the rent. Originally, the coming year’s lease would be 11 months as a 30-day notice is required to change the rent. For those 11 months, the rent would be $650 per month and then $700 per month the following year.

A Step Up pays for the property taxes of the building, approximately $1,300 and more than $1,100 for electricity for the year.

“It seems like a big jump for us,” A Step Up Owner JoAnne Knutilla said.

The store opened three years ago on a one-year lease for the first year in business and then a two-year lease.

Knutilla countered with a two-year option at $650 per year and not to increase it to $700 the second year.

“We try to keep our prices reasonable and it’s possible because our rent is reasonable,” she said.

That amount was agreed to and approved by the council.

In other news

• The council approved a new desktop computer and an accompanying laptop for Lammers to replace her seven-year-old machine. The old computer needs to be replaced due to Microsoft no longer supporting the Windows 10 operating system as of Oct. 14. Both new computers come with Windows 11 Professional and Corporate Technologies will complete file transfers of the city records from the former machine to the new one. Total cost is $2,253.03.

• The council also approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for the Beer Garden at the Hairyman Festival.