The Isabel Town Board voted Monday to revise the rates it charges under its municipal alcohol license operating agreement and approved a new off-sale alcohol license for a future Main Street business.
Isabel’s only year-round liquor license holder is Sparky’s Bar & Grill, which pays a $300 monthly fee for an on-sale/off-sale license. Finance Officer Karla Nordyke proposed changing the fee after receiving an application from Ryan Maher for an off-sale only license at a business he plans to open in Isabel by fall.
Under a plan approved Monday, liquor license holders will pay $150 per month for an on-sale license and $150 per month for a package/offsale license.
“This just breaks each type of license down rather than lumping them under one category,” said Nordyke. “We’ve never had anyone apply to sell just on-sale or off-sale before, they’ve always been together so that’s how the fee was set up.”
The Isabel Rodeo Association is granted a temporary on-sale liquor license every year for use during the Isabel Rodeo and the fee for the license is waived by the town board.
After setting the new liquor license rate structure, board members approved Maher’s application for an onsale liquor license, pending it is also approved by the state. Maher, who serves as president of the town board, abstained from both votes regarding the licensing.
In other action, the board accepted the 2021 Isabel Fire Department member roster, which includes 31 volunteers. Dan Assman currently serves as fire chief with Tony Russell as assistant chief.
It also renewed Isabel’s membership in the Central South Dakota Enhancement District and authorized the agency to make an application on behalf of the town to the South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture & Natural Resources State Water Plan for potential funding for a future sewer system upgrade.
The board of trustees approved a newly-developed Vulnerability Assessment & Emergency Response Plan, a comprehensive guide to Isabel’s infrastructure to be used in case of natural disaster or terrorist threat.