Vermillion City Council Meeting - October 21, 2025

The Vermillion City Council met on October 21, 2025, to address a variety of agenda items including liquor licenses, zoning variances, ordinance amendments, and infrastructure projects. Key decisions included approval of a variance to reduce a setback to zero feet for a mixed-use development, advancement of an ordinance to allow small animal veterinary clinics as conditional uses with no distance requirement, and approval of a change order for the North Carr Street construction project. The meeting also saw the resolution for a restaurant license fee reduction die for lack of a motion.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the minutes from the October 6, 2025 special meeting and regular meeting. (Motion by Councillor Murray, second by Councillor Holland; approved unanimously)
• Adoption of the agenda. (Motion by Councillor Price, second by Councillor Lieber; approved unanimously)
• Consent agenda items: invoices, annual write-off of accounts receivable, declaration of surplus emergency communications equipment, and resolution to transfer a 2013 console to Painton County. (Motion by Councillor Lieber, second by Councillor Price; approved unanimously)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jim Peterson (Vermillion Chamber Development Company) spoke in favor of the variance for 16 High Street, noting support from the brewery owners and the potential for increased property tax and sales tax revenue. He also thanked the council for expediting the veterinarian ordinance.
• Nick Mart (Mark Brothers Construction) spoke in support of the variance, stating that reusing the existing foundation would be cost-effective and that the new building would be on the same footprint.
• No other public testimony was offered on other agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Special Daily Malt Beverage and Wine License for Clay County Agricultural Fair Association (November 22, 2025, 5-10 p.m., ~200 attendees, alcohol served at bar only, IDs checked). The police chief's report noted no prior issues. Approved unanimously.
• Variance Request for 16 High Street: Request to reduce the required setback from 20 feet to zero feet for a mixed-use building (commercial ground floor, residential above) on the same footprint as the existing building. Staff recommended approval, noting that the existing building is already at the property line and that the variance would allow the owner to either remodel or build new. The council discussed the non-conforming use and parking. Approved unanimously (6 of 9 votes needed, but no roll call was taken; motion carried by voice vote).
• First Reading of Ordinance 1347: Amending zoning regulations to allow small animal veterinary clinics as a conditional use in the General Business district without the 150-foot distance requirement and with no outdoor kenneling. The Planning Commission recommended unanimously (8-0). Councillor Jennoy expressed concern about eliminating the distance requirement entirely but supported advancing the ordinance to meet the immediate need for a veterinarian. Advanced to second reading (special meeting October 27, 2025).
• Second Reading of Ordinance 1545: Rezone 1200 West Street from NRC to R1 for a residential addition. Approved by roll call vote (7-0).
• First Reading of Ordinance 1543: Allowing current alcohol license holders to obtain special daily licenses for on-sale liquor. Advanced to second reading.
• Resolution Amending Fee for On-Sale Full Service Restaurant License: Proposed reduction from $95,000 to $70,000. After discussion, no motion was made; the item died for lack of motion. Councillor Price noted that the VCDC meeting indicated no interest from potential restaurant owners, and that current license holders opposed the reduction.
• First Reading of Ordinance 1546: Update the address of the Vermillion Police Department from 15 Washington Street to 1250 Stanford Street. Advanced to second reading (November 3, 2025).
• Bid Board 2 (Business Improvement District #2) Reappointments: Reappointed current members with staggered terms (Patrick Morrison and Becky Earnquist Schroeder to 2026; James Waters and Martin Pendergrass to 2027; Michelle Maloney to 2028). Approved.
• North Carr Street Construction Change Order: Increased contract by $129,847.56 (largely due to poor soil conditions, $92,000). Original contract $447,552.93; new total $577,400.49. The work has been completed. Approved.
• Resolution Amending Landfill Disposal Rates: Multi-year increase for 2026 ($7/ton), 2027 ($5/ton), 2028 ($3/ton). Minimum fee increased to $14 (unchanged for 2027-2028). Approved with clarification.
• Water Treatment Plant Improvement Bid Opening: Awarded base bid to RP Constructors LLC ($6,103,940) and rejected bid alternate ($293,922). The project is funded by a $7 million SRF loan, with $1.3 million already used for distribution improvements. Additional funding is being sought. Approved.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Special daily malt beverage and wine license for Clay County Agricultural Fair Association (unanimous).
• Approved: Variance to reduce setback to zero feet for 16 High Street (unanimous voice vote).
• Advanced to Second Reading: Ordinance 1347 (veterinarian zoning) and Ordinance 1543 (special alcohol licenses) and Ordinance 1546 (police address).
• Approved (Roll Call 7-0): Ordinance 1545 (rezoning 1200 West Street).
• Died for Lack of Motion: Resolution to reduce restaurant license fee to $70,000.
• Approved: Bid Board 2 reappointments (unanimous).
• Approved: North Carr Street change order (unanimous).
• Approved: Landfill rate resolution (unanimous).
• Approved: Water treatment plant bid award (unanimous).
• Next Meetings: Special city council meeting October 27, 2025 (noon) for second reading of Ordinance 1347; regular meeting November 3, 2025.