The Watertown City Council convened last night, unanimously advancing two key initiatives designed to stimulate local economic growth and improve sustainability, while also moving to address a critical public safety concern regarding psychoactive hemp-derived products.
New Restricted Liquor License Approved to Attract New Restaurants
The City Council unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance to create a new restricted liquor license category for full-service restaurants. This action, following months of discussion and community input, is intended to attract high-quality dining establishments to Watertown.
City Manager Stager outlined the key provisions designed to differentiate this new category from the traditional full liquor license:
Revenue Requirement: License holders must derive a minimum of 60% of their annual revenue from food sales and no more than 40% from the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Annual Fee: The ordinance formally enshrines an annual fee of $50,000 for the license.
Mayor Holien expressed his ultimate support, noting the economic impact new restaurants can have. "Things like that are important to the growth of Watertown," Holien stated, citing examples of people driving long distances to visit successful local restaurants and boosting tourism.
Councilman Jurrens, who moved to approve the ordinance, emphasized that the $50,000 fee addresses a category that had seen zero demand in 16 years when the fee was $100,000. Jurrens stressed the importance of the guardrails put in place, expressing optimism for increased choices for residents and travelers. The vote was unanimous, with Councilman Hoyer abstaining.
City Seeks $5 Million Federal Grant for Airport Solar Farm
The Council also unanimously authorized City Manager Stager to submit a pre-application for a Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The $5 million in potential funding would be used to construct a solar farm at the Watertown Regional Airport.
The project is positioned as a significant step toward reducing the facility’s carbon footprint and offsetting operational costs, which currently stand at approximately $100,000 annually. Stager explained that the $5 million investment is crucial not just for immediate savings but for future economic development activities and expansion at the airport.
Councilman Hoyer expressed strong enthusiasm for the initiative, suggesting the city explore similar alternative energy opportunities across other large municipal buildings.
Airport Manager Ian Merriweather assured the Council that the solar installation would be small—about $0.2 to $0.3$ acres—and discreet. He also confirmed that preliminary discussions with Watertown Municipal Utilities indicated the possibility of a buyback program for any excess electricity returned to the grid, addressing a query from Councilman Jurrens.
The pre-application is due November 1, with an award decision expected early next year. If the city is successful, construction could be scheduled for 2027. The council's swift move to pursue this highly competitive federal funding stream is a positive step toward modernizing infrastructure and promoting sustainability.
Age Restriction Ordinance Prepared for Psychoactive Hemp Products
In a third major action, the Council unanimously directed city staff to draft a focused ordinance that would prohibit the sale, purchase, and possession of psychoactive hemp-derived products to individuals under the age of 21.
The decision followed extensive testimony from community stakeholders, including Watertown Police Chief Tim Toomey, prevention specialists, and youth. Stakeholders highlighted the public safety risks associated with a current legal loophole that allows intoxicating THC beverages and edibles to be sold without age restriction, noting an exponential increase in aggressive behavior tied to Delta products.
The Council agreed to align the penalties for the new law with existing alcohol violations, which carry a maximum fine of $500 and 30 days in jail for a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Chief Toomey emphasized that the issue is a "community topic" focused solely on "protecting our kids," not debating the legalization of marijuana. Nancy Gilbertson, owner of Vape Depot, advised the council on precise language to ensure the ban covers all intoxicating, chemically modified products like Delta-8 and Delta-10. Teacher Haley Rowe, who brought local middle school students from the youth group Peeps (Peer Educating and Empowering Peers) to advocate for the ban, stressed the importance of adult leaders protecting the community's youth.
Mayor Holien expressed confidence that Watertown’s leadership in being one of the first municipalities to act could spur similar statewide legislation. City Manager Stager and City Attorney Lisa Carrico will now prepare the new ordinance for its first reading next week.
