Published: July 24, 2007 11:28 pm      

Sunday alcohol sales

Back on the table

The issue of Sunday alcohol sales is back on the Richmond City Commission’s agenda and will be voted on during its next meeting Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m.

City Hall was packed Feb. 27, when the ordinance first came up for a vote that, if passed, would have allowed alcohol to be sold on Sunday in restaurants that seat 100 or more customers and derive at least 50 percent of their profit from food sales.

Most of the crowd rallied against the ordinance, many of whom were affiliated with local churches and other religious organizations, and the ordinance was voted down 5-0.

The new ordinance mandates that only restaurants would be allowed to sell alcohol from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sundays, and it only pertains to restaurants that seat at least 75 people and derive at least 50 percent of their gross annual income from food sales.

The first reading of the ordinance was given Tuesday, but no vote was taken. The only votes that count are the ones received after an ordinance’s second and final reading.

The ordinance also mandates that those restaurants interested in selling alcohol on Sundays apply for a “Schedule F” permit with the State Office of Alcohol Beverage Control, which costs $500 per year.

Most of the public input during the ordinance’s last vote taken in February, was from those in opposition.

“We’ve had plenty of time to discuss this with the business community and I think that they need to have an opportunity to speak,” said Commissioner Mike Brewer. “I think the group of people (who in February rallied in opposition) only presented one side of it.”

The ordinance’s second appearance on the commission’s budget is simply “a request from the community,” said Commissioner Kay Cosby Jones, who has firmly remained in opposition of Sunday alcohol sales.

“I got the blame, or the credit, however you feel, for filling this room with opposition the last time,” she said. “I didn’t have anything to do with any organized gathering. I believe the community is equally divided and the fair way to do it would be to put it on a ballot and let the people decide, but that’s not an option for the city of Richmond.”

Richmond City Manager David Evans explained that only counties can call for a local-option election, and that for cities to be able to would require a change in laws at the state level.

In other business:

• The city set electrical permit fees as follows:

Single family, multi-family, light commercial and churches (all prices include temporary service) — For 200-amp service, $150; 400-amp service, $200; 600-amp service, $300; 800-amp service, $400; 1,000-amp service, $500; 1,200-amp service, $600; multi-family duplex or apartment (includes temporary service), $125 per unit; additions/swimming pools/re-wires, etc. (includes temporary service), $150; and service changes/mobile homes/ barns (includes temporary service), $75.

• The commission entered into an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways for work on Four Mile Road. A $575,000 grant was issued to widen and improve the road from the Robert R. Martin Bypass to Hampton Ridge.

• The zoning classification of property owned by Jewell Isaacs on Cycle Drive was changed from agricultural use to business use.

• Mark Moody, Andy Woolum and Ernie Northern of the Richmond Fire Department were promoted to the rank of Firefighter II; Matt Farthing was transferred from part-time laborer to environmental technician for the city recycling department; and Connie Clayburn was given the position of administration specialist for the Richmond Police Department.

• Brewer attempted to lay to rest any rumors that may have surfaced about his son applying for a job at the Richmond City Police Department.

“He filled out an application, and I encouraged him not to do that,” Brewer said.

The city’s nepotism law prohibits the immediate family of any elected city official from being hired as a city employee.

“When I started campaigning, he told me that he wanted to be a policeman at the Richmond Police Department and I told him that if I was elected, it simply was not possible,” Brewer said. “But, he applied to the department and did the testing, but we discouraged that. He’s taken it in stride, but he doesn’t understand why he can’t be a police officer in the town where he grew up.”

Brewer’s son is no longer pursuing a job as a Richmond officer.

“I told him that that’s just the way it is because I’m an elected official,” he said. “But, I also told him I’m not quitting.”