It could aid Columbus” economy or destroy the city”s future, nearly 40 speakers said Monday night of a proposed plan to extend the Friendly City”s alcoholic beverage sale hours.
Tonight, the Columbus City Council is scheduled to vote on the matter. If passed, the motion would allow on-site alcohol sales in the city from 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. Tonight”s meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the Columbus Municipal Complex.
More than 100 Columbus residents packed into a small courtroom in the Columbus City Hall on Monday night for a public hearing, as city officials listened to 39 speakers share their thoughts on the matter.
“We”re in the Bible Belt and we can pray, but we can”t give God one day without alcohol consumption?” said Dorothy Glasscock. “I am definitely opposed to extending the hours at all.”
Of the speakers, nearly 77 percent said they strongly opposed extending the city”s alcoholic beverage sale hours, citing concerns of drunken drivers, higher crime rates and increased incidents of alcohol abuse.
Currently, city ordinance allows local bars and restaurants to sell liquor and wine from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Although the city now allows on-site beer and light wine sales from 7 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, it does not allow Sunday wine and liquor sales.
“The police, sheriff”s department and Highway Patrol are already overwhelmed dealing with alcohol problems. We don”t need to pump more alcohol onto the streets,” said Will Dupler. “I hope tomorrow that all of you (city councilmen) will vote like Christians instead of folding like a cheapskate.”
Several speakers echoed Dupler”s sentiments, saying the sales hours extension would “cause more problems than it fixed.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that everyone in this room wants to move Columbus forward, but I think we should be more concerned with getting people and their families to move here,” said Charles Morgan. “I don”t think we are going in the right direction with this. Let”s do something that will.”
Although Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin previously said the sales extension would help boost the city”s sales tax collections, former Columbus mayor George Wade cautioned the council against relying on alcohol sales to raise city revenue.
“When I took office in 1997, I came into the same budget shortfall situation as you have,” Wade told the council. “But you only get back about 18 cents per dollar back to the city from sales tax. The rest goes to Jackson.”
Columbus resident Judy Cockerham urged city officials to seek more faith-based solutions to deal with Columbus” declining sales tax collections.
“The Bible teaches us that God blesses those who honor him,” Cockerham said. “I do believe that he will bless Columbus if we honor him by not selling liquor on Sundays.”
As nine of the 39 speakers at the hearing voiced opinions in favor of extending alcohol availability in the Friendly City, the supporters urged the council to consider the extension as a form of economic development.
“I have been lucky enough to generate six jobs over the past few years at my business,” said Bart Lawrence, owner of the Princess Theater in downtown Columbus. “My employees would appreciate the extra hours, and I would too.”
Freddie Fields, owner of The Golden Horn restaurant on North Frontage Road, encouraged the council to allow restaurant owners the option of serving liquor and wine on Sundays.
“I have resort status, so I can sell on Sunday. But I choose not to open that day,” Fields said. “If we want to get more business and more national restaurants here, we will have to do what everyone else is doing. At least give restaurants the option to sell on Sunday if they want to.”
Columbus resident Bennie Aaron also linked the sales hours extension to growth in the city.
“It”s clear that Columbus needs more revenue right now,” Aaron said. “Tupelo outgrew Columbus, and Starkville isn”t far behind. We need this law to help Columbus grow.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.