grand-junction-city-council

A special hearing was held Monday night with the Grand Junction City Council.

The lone agenda item was to consider voting to remove Council member Brian Mount. The Council heard from witnesses about a conversation that took place following a council meeting on May 24th. Mount owns Coffee Corner in the downtown area and is building a new bar on the south side of his property called The Mason Jar. During the May 24th council meeting, the council approved an alcohol permit contingent upon approval of a health and fire inspection.

City Clerk Katrina Buttler filed an affidavit and testified during the hearing about what happened when Mount spoke with her after that council meeting.

Brian Mount

“He asked when I was going to file the application (to the Iowa Alcohol Beverage Division) and I said the next morning when I came in. He said, ‘Well then just answer them ‘yes’ because I will get them done sooner or later.’ I said, ‘Brian, I’m not going to lie for you, I’m going to answer them ‘no.’”

Mount argued that the City didn’t require an inspection. Buttler said the City ordinance adopted state code which said an alcohol permit will not be issued without a health and fire inspection. The Council also heard from City Financial Officer Angie Jones who affirmed what Buttler had said took place in her conversation with Mount. 

The Council then voted unanimously 4-0, with Mount abstaining, to remove him from Council. Brian’s wife Beth shared her reaction following her husband being voted off of council.

“I love this town (that) hasn’t changed and we’re not going anywhere. My wheaties didn’t get peed in. I’m not leaving, he’s (Brian’s) not leaving. If anything, you just go on and build a bigger and a better (Grand) Junction. You just do it in different ways, that’s all.”

Mayor Gerald Herrick

Mayor Gerry Herrick said he’s never been involved in a situation where the council was voting to remove one of its members and he commented on what happened. 

“It’s a sad day for Grand Junction. Obviously I didn’t want to do it, (but) we had to because the City petitioned the Council to do something. This is how the vote came out. I tried to be as fair as I could.”

According to Iowa Code, since the council voted to remove Mount there is now a vacancy. The vacancy would be filled by appointment of the council or the council can also call for a special election. Grand Junction residents can also call for a special election by submitting a petition.