The Oakdale Council’s February agenda will continue the discussion on alcohol sales in the city and whether its ordinance, which has not been changed since 1956, according to information supplied at the January council meeting, is outdated.
Mayor Gene Paul said the issue of alcohol sales is two-fold. He said the council will be looking at the old ordinance, and hopefully, they are able to make it more simplified, so citizens can understand it better. He said depending on which way you read the ordinance and interpret the ordinance, it could have two different meanings.
At the January meeting, Attorney Ray Rush noted the ordinance stipulates no sale of any kind of alcohol between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Sundays, however beverages with one-half of one percent by volume or less than six percent may be sold between 5 a.m. and midnight.
A local bar owner had approached the council in January to consider revising the ordinance to allow her business to open on Sundays and sell alcohol. The owner, Angela Spears with Yum Yum’s Frozen Daiquiris, would like to have outdoor music on Sundays on her business’ patio.
Mayor Gene Paul said the first issue is reviewing the ordinance and perhaps simplifying the ordinance. The second issue is allowing alcohol sales of more than six percent on Sunday. This meeting will have no public hearing on either matter, because the council has to decide how to move forward. If the council decides to make changes in either issue, then, a public hearing will be held and the ordinance will be updated and brought before the council to consider. Before a public hearing is held, it has to be advertised three times informing the public of what the council will consider. If the council decides to make changes, then it will be March or April, before a public hearing is held and a vote on changes would be taken.
