Attempt to repeal liquor law fails
The recently passed Bolivar city ordinance to allow the operation of liquor stores came under fire at the July city council meeting. An attempt to repeal the ordinance, which is now law, failed by one vote…a tie breaking vote from Mayor Barrett Stevens.
The motion, made by Councilman Larry McKinnie, was to repeal the ordinance because McKinnie said there needed to be further discussion on the location of liquor stores and their proximity to churches and schools.
“I feel like some of the things that are on here, we should really just look at more closely than just being in a big hurry,” McKinnie said. “Especially if you can build a liquor store by a church.”
However, McKinnie was among five other councilmen, along with the mayor, in attendance during the June 9 meeting when the 1st reading of the ordinance was held and a brief discussion about the proximity to churches was held. During that meeting, the question was asked about the proximity of liquor stores to churches and city attorney Steve Hornsby told the council the state did not have a requirement regarding proximity of liquor stores to churches. The council was informed they could amend the ordinance in regards to proximity to churches if that is what they chose, but no motion was made to add a proximity restriction to the ordinance. Willie McKinnie abstained from the vote during that meeting on the 1st reading of the ordinance. James Futrell, Todd Lowe, Julian McTizic, Larry McKinnie and Suzanne Rhea voted in favor of the ordinance as it stood and passed it during the June 9 meeting. Tracy Byrum and Randy Hill were absent for the meeting. As a result, the ordinance was set for a public hearing on June 22nd for a second reading, where it passed the council.
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