The Stuart City Council met for a joint meeting with the Utility Board, and their own regular meeting on Monday June 10th.

During the joint meeting, the Council and Board discussed the possibility of forming a Capital Projects Improvements Committee, seeking other options for alternate utility and water sources and health insurance benefits for Utility and City employees. They also covered the automated traffic enforcement camera project, and saw a presentation on the Stuart American Legion Building.

In the regular session, the Council approved outdoor liquor licenses for Johnnie’s Tap and Ruby’s Unlimited, LLC for Good Egg Days, as well as for a party on July 20th for Johnnie’s Tap. They then approved the 2024 Hotel/Motel Tax recommendations, the cigarette permit for fiscal year 2024-25, and heard presentations from Rescue Director Sean Bovinett on proposals from the Audubon County Hospital and for the Guthrie County Emergency Medical Services Request for Proposal. They then scheduled a meeting on Wednesday where both were action items.

The Council set public hearing dates for the sale of city owned property at 607 Gaines Street and lots on North Harlan Street for July 8th at 6pm. They also approved a partial payment to McAninch Corporation for $809,207.37, the wages of seasonal employees at the pool, and amended the 2015 International Code of Ordinances, and switching them with the 2021 International Series Code of Ordinances, waived the need for a second reading of the ordinance amendment, and then adopted the ordinance.

The Council then approved a delayed payment to Aust Hotels, LLC for completion of work at the Stuart hotel, heard presentations from Economic Development Director Matt Funk on amending City Code to reduce the annual transient merchants, tabled a decision on whether they would contract Main Street Marketing for social media purposes, and discussed working with an employment attorney to develop a hiring policy.