Jasper Prepares for Sunday Sales

Jasper is preparing for Sunday sales this weekend. The referendum to sell alcohol by the package on Sundays in Jasper city limits was approved by voters on the July ballot. Since then, the city has been working to amend its alcohol ordinance to reflect the change.

During its September meeting this week, city council held a second hearing for the amendments to the ordinance. In the meeting, council addressed two sections of the ordinance, sections 10-129 and 10-312. Only the title was changed in Section 10-129, though. Council approved to change the title from,

“Sales on Sundays and Election Days,”

to

“Sales on Election Day.”

Additionally, Section 10-312 was changed from,

“Alcoholic beverages shall not be sold on the premises except between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 1:00 A.M. Monday through Friday, on Saturday between 12:30 P.M. and 12 midnight or Sunday”

to

“Alcoholic beverages should not be sold for consumption on the premises and retail by the package, except between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 1:00 A.M. Monday through Friday, between 6:00 A.M. and 12 midnight on Saturday, and between 12:30 P.M. and midnight on Sunday.”

Explaining these changes, City Clerk Tacie Williams said the city will also omit 10-312A. This, she said, is effective for licenses approved for the 2013 calendar year. Specifically, this section requires those selling alcohol on Sundays to acquire a separate license to do so. As such, the omission of the section allows the new licenses and renewals to automatically grant the allowance to sell alcohol by the package on Sunday.

Council Member Jim Looney asked if rates for the licenses have been addressed. Williams said they will be addressed during the budget process. The second reading of the ordinance passed by a majority, but was not unanimous.