The final chapter in Starkville”s Sunday alcohol sales debate was written Wednesday in Jackson by the Mississippi Tax Commission.
The Tax Commission approved the city”s request to allow restaurants to sell beer, liquor and wine by the glass on Sundays, a spokeswoman said.
An extension of hours, which is effective immediately, will allow alcohol sales for on-site consumption from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Jay Yates, owner of The Veranda and president of the Starkville Restaurant Association, feels Sunday sales will lead to more business and more jobs in the city. The Veranda currently isn”t open on Sundays, but Yates now plans to open every Sunday and hire as many as 10 new people to work the additional hours. Other restaurants are planning similar moves, he said.
“We”re very happy that the (office of Alcoholic Beverage Control) and the State Tax Commission has chosen to honor the will of the people in Oktibbeha County and Starkville and allow Sunday alcohol sales following the approval of the Sunday beer sales that (the Board of Aldermen) passed here,” Yates said. “We”re glad, obviously, and we”ve been anticipating that, hoping that was the way it was going to go. Hopefully now we can get on with the business of doing business and generating revenue and new taxes and hopefully jobs.”
The city can regulate the hours beer and light wine, such as wine coolers, are sold in grocery and convenience stores, but the Tax Commission regulates beer, liquor and regular wine sales in restaurants, Mayor Parker Wiseman said.
Grocery stores and convenience stores will be allowed to sell beer and light wine on Sundays beginning Sept. 21 since Starkville aldermen last month approved amendments to the city”s alcohol ordinance. Sept. 27 is the first Sunday once the amendments go into effect.
Wiseman is glad the Sunday sales debate has finally come to a conclusion. The issue divided the city, with opponents of Sunday sales arguing on religious, moral and safety grounds, and proponents talking about the economic benefits.
“When you address a controversial social topic like this, it gives rise to a wide array of feelings that can be passionately charged and that makes it a very difficult decision to have,” Wiseman said. “That discussion has been had. The board has made a decision and now that decision has reached a stage of finality and I am optimistic about the prospects for us as a community as we move on to less divisive topics.”
Tax Commission Spokeswoman Kathy Waterbury said the Commission received “an impressive stack” of letters from Starkville residents both for and against Sunday sales, plus “a lot” of e-mails, though she had no exact figures.
Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins was one of the people who wrote to the Tax Commission in opposition to Sunday sales. He also drew fire at a Board of Aldermen meeting in August when he said he wishes there was a law requiring people to attend church. Perkins could not be reached for comment.
Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver, who also voted against Sunday alcohol sales last month, wasn”t surprised by the Tax Commission”s decision.
“It”s kind of what I expected,” Carver said. “They usually take the advice of the city and take the city at face value, so that”s what we were expecting. Hopefully everybody can get along now.”
Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas, a strong proponent of Sunday sales, also was pleased with the Tax Commission”s decision.
“I”m very glad that they approved it, obviously,” Dumas said. “I think they did the right thing in understanding the needs and wishes and wants of the people of Starkville.”
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