Council leaves Sunday, holiday alcohol issue in limbo

After a series of motions died for lack of a second Thursday, the issue of Sunday and holiday alcohol sales in Demopolis is back where it started – in the hands of the Demopolis City Council.

Mayor Mike Grayson said it is up to the council whether or not to revisit the issue at its next meeting.

Following an appeal from the Demopolis Ministerial Association to reject the proposal and a local business owner’s comments supporting alcohol sales on Sundays, council member Bill Meador made a motion to table the proposal. His motion received no second, and council member Harris Nelson then pointed out that time is of the essence if the council wishes to bring the matter to the Legislature in time to place a referendum on this November’s ballot. He made a motion to approve the measure, which also died for lack of a second.

At that point, council member Cleveland Cole made a motion against the measure, but Meador interjected that the lack of a second on Nelson’s motion accomplished the same thing.

The series of motions followed an eloquent statement to the council from Rev. Hank Atchison, pastor of Gallion Baptist Church and president of the Blackbelt Ministerial Association.

“We do not see this mainly as a moral issue,” Atchison said. “We’re not here to point out if alcohol is a sin or not, because we’ve all sinned. We see this as a social issue.”

The pastor continued, “The public sees the glorification of alcohol, but we see dark side of it. We see families that are being destroyed by alcohol. We see the family devastated because a child has been killed by a drunk driver. We see individuals spend their lives in and out of rehab.”

Atchison acknowledged that increased sales tax revenue is “the selling point, the upside, if you will” to Sunday liquor sales, but quoted a recent article indicating that alcohol sales have not increased significantly in Tuscaloosa since the approval of Sunday alcohol sales.

He also referenced a 10-year study printed in the American Journal of Public Health that showed alcohol related vehicle crashes increasing 29 percent and motor vehicle deaths increasing 42 percent on Sundays in areas where Sunday alcohol bans had been lifted.

“Again, we’re not here to debate this as a moral issue,” he concluded. “We’re here because of our love for the people of Demopolis.”

He also noted a significant decrease in DUI arrests in Demopolis in recent years, citing figures provided by the city. “We’re heading in the right direction,” he said. “Let’s not do something that changes that.”

Other pastors who are part of the Ministerial Association were also present at the meeting.

Council member Charles Jones asked to hear from two local business owners who were present. Jason Windham, owner of Batter Up Sports Grill, said he is frustrated that “citizens have choices taken away from them that they have in surrounding communities.”

He said he would prefer to see money spent on alcohol sales stay in Demopolis. He said his business used to be open on Sundays, but he no longer feels it is feasible to be open on Sundays without alcohol sales.

“I’m not saying it is right or wrong,” he added. “I’m just saying as a citizen I’d like to have that choice.”

Joe Parr, owner of Parr’s Chevron, was also called upon by the council, but elected not to address the issue without seeking the input of his business partner and brother, Jim.

In other matters Thursday, the council voted to accept a hangar at the airport from Southern Tank Leasing. The company had a long-term lease and built the hanger, but no longer has use for it. Southern Tank is willing to give the hangar to the city in exchange for being released from the long-term lease.

Airport manager Jason Pendergrass told the council he sees no downside to Southern Tank’s request.

Also, Marengo County Revenue Commissioner Sharon Barkley gave the council a brief overview of various improvements in her office.