Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
During its regular monthly meeting at Merrill City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Common Council unanimously approved a resolution designating the Merrill Foto News as the official newspaper of the City of Merrill.
The Merrill Courier was previously the official newspaper of record for the city. However, the Merrill Courier ceased publication on Aug. 30. According to Wisconsin State Legislature, to be an official newspaper of a city, town or village, a paper must be in business for two years, regularly publishing and have a paid subscriber base. The Merrill Courier met these requirements, however the Merrill Foto News does not. However, statutory language also states if there is not a newspaper that meets the requirements, the city may choose a newspaper to be their legal newspaper.
For the weekly readers of the Merrill Foto News there will be very little change. The Foto News will remain a free, weekly publication, however it will now include mandated legal notices, including election ballots. The Merrill Foto News is one of the few, free publications in the state to be named the legal newspaper of a city.
In other news from the Oct. 8 meeting, the council approved an application from Kickback Lounge and Pub, LLC, for a Class “B” beer and a Class “B” liquor license, at 116 North Prospect St., the former location of Johnny T’s Tropicana. A resolution approving a Conditional Use Permit to establish a Downtown Mission Church at 805 East Main St. was also approved.
The next Common Council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12, 2019, starting at 7 p.m. at the Merrill City Hall.