Confusion and disagreement among McCaysville City Council members did not stop the next step needed for changes to the city’s alcohol law to become realities.
A city council workshop that took less than half an hour Friday, July 17, ended with City Attorney Cortney Stuart receiving approval to move forward with an alcohol ordinance amendment.
That amendment will allow happy hours, package sales of beer and wine, extended drinking hours with special permits, and wine tastings with special permits.
The happy hour provision drew the most concern with council members Gilita Carter and Susan Kiker both expressing confusion and opposing the idea.
Kiker began the discussion saying, “I did not agree to that (happy hour).”
Carter agreed, saying, “I’m against the happy hour.”
She also said she had become “very, very confused” over the issue between discussion at a January meeting and the Tuesday night session.
Councilwoman Sue Beaver only expressed concern over keeping alcohol out of the park and off city streets. She was assured by Police Chief Michael Earley the ordinance amendment would allow neither and both were already prohibited.
While there was no official vote, Beaver, along with Councilmen Larry Collis and Jason Woody gave their approval to allowing happy hours while Carter and Kiker opposed the move.
Package sales were also included in the amendment presented Friday, even though council members voted at their June meeting they would not be included in the amendment.
The vote against package sales came because of the substantial cost involved in writing the ordinance. In June, Stuart said that cost could reach $5,000. According to her June invoice, which the council approved three days earlier at their regular July meeting, the cost was slightly less than $4,000.
Little discussion arose over package sales, except for Carter saying she was for those sales “all along.”
There was also concern over the extended drinking hours offered with the special permits included in the ordinance amendment. Last call will be at 1:45 a.m., giving businesses until 2:30 a.m. to close. But the amendment was not changed.
The ordinance also:
•Lists various requirements for establishments selling package beer and wine;
•Sets a $25 fee for wine tasting permits and a $25 special event last call permit fee;
•Sets a 12-time limit on the number of wine tasting and last call events that can be held;
•Sets package sale license fees at $3,500 a year for beer and $3,500 for wine, or a combination license fee for both for $7,000; and,
•Specifies no sales of any kind are allowed on Christmas Day.
The first reading of the ordinance, when public comments will be accepted, is planned for the council’s regular August meeting, which is scheduled for City Hall August 11.