Business license for gun sales approved

Generally, as it relates to the issues coming before the Aledo City Council, members see eye-to-eye. It’s a rarity for members of the Aledo City Council to vote in an oppositional way. That is especially true as it relates to situations in which passions become inflamed leading up to the vote.

While instances like that are the exception rather than the rule, that was certainly the situation at hand when the council met for their regular meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25. On the docket for the meeting were plans to discuss and vote on the potential approval of a business license for a C-2 Commercial license for Aledo Arms and Ammo owner Thomas Sadin. 

Sadin acquired his Federal Firearms License (FFL) two years ago and began selling firearms, ammunition, and accessories part-time in hopes of opening a brick and mortar location in the future within the Aledo city limits. With his customer base around 200 people, including members of the Aledo ISD Police Department and Fort Worth Police Department, Sadin began working on securing a location for his business. 

On Thursday, Sadin made his pitch to the council in hopes of getting approved to do business at 108 Jearl Street. As part of the presentation, a rendering of the layout for the shop was provided. The graphic displayed the sales floor, virtual reality gun range, and gun vaults where the firearms will be stored after business hours.

There will not be a live-fire gun range on site.

Council members Nelson Rawls and Shawna Ford expressed concerns around the possibility of someone being able to access a firearm through the shop and using the weapon for malicious purposes. Over several minutes, Sadin spoke to the security measures he plans to put into place in the shop, as well as discussing the stringent federal oversight he is subject to as part of holding a valid FFL license.

Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Rawls appeared to have his concerns assuaged during the discussion. Councilwoman Ford, however, was not satisfied.

Ford took the opportunity to inquire of Sadin’s plans for his business across a broad range of topics ranging from security measures to keep inventory from being stolen, to the background check process, and asking about potential gun safety training for customers. 

Joey Weaver, a neighbor of Sadin, also came to the podium to address the council on behalf of the business owner. Weaver gave a ringing endorsement of Sadin as a neighbor, friend, and a business owner. 

In spite of all efforts to win her over, when it came time to vote to approve the business license for Aledo Arms and Ammo, Ford stood alone as the only “nay” vote. With the rest of the Council voting in the affirmative, the motion passed, granting a C-2 license to Aledo Arms and Ammo.

“I’m very relieved,” Sadin said after the vote. “This has been an ongoing process since about November. We already started demo and everything else we can before this was approved. If the vote would’ve come back unapproved, I’d be in a pretty bad position [financially] right now.”

With the approval, Sadin hopes to officially open doors on Wednesday, May 1.

WWTP expansion update

Two representatives from Freese & Nichols provided an update on the planned expansion of the wastewater treatment plant. Freese & Nichols plans to finish up the design for the expansion in time for construction to get underway starting in June of 2025. Construction is anticipated to take 30 months to complete.

Following the presentation the council voted unanimously to approve a $4.3 million contract between the City of Aledo and Freese & Nichols to see the project from planning to completion.

Meeting canceled 

The last item on the agenda before the council entered into executive session was a vote to cancel the Feb. 1 meeting. Council approved the measure unanimously. Therefore, the only City Council meeting in February will be on the 22nd.